False information
The Center Against Online Hate (CCDH) on Thursday highlighted the influence of a billionaire supporter of Donald Trump on the election campaign.
The nonprofit CCDH highlighted 50 voting-related posts since January that disinformation experts have deemed false or misleading. The 193 million X users, for example, claim that Democrats are encouraging illegal immigration to “import voters,” MBC News reported.
The billionaire faced heavy criticism for circulating a manipulated video of Democratic White House candidate Kamala Harris in late July, which drew millions of views and was later described as “satire.”
“Elon Musk abuses his position as owner of an influential social network, to spread disinformation that generates discord and distrust,” said Imran Ahmed, director of CCDH.
Elon Musk ‘acts like he’s untouchable’
Elon Musk, one of the world’s richest men, “is acting like he’s untouchable, despite mounting evidence of the pernicious role he’s playing in stoking disinformation and division ahead of the election,” said attorney Nora Benavidez.
NBC News emphasizes that none of Musk’s 50 challenged posts had a “social rating”, that would correct his claims or add context. That raises questions about the effectiveness of the fact-checking system, the center noted.
“His conduct, which borders on election interference, means that others – the public, regulators and advertisers – should hold him accountable for his anti-democratic stance,” a Free Press representative told AFP.
Musk has recently stepped up his rhetoric on immigration and transgender rights. This coincided with his warming relations with Trump. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a Republican victory in the November 5 election could be beneficial for Musk’s business empire.
From New York Andrzej Dobrowolski (PAP)
