Elon Musk pledged to make Twitter the "most accurate source of information about the world," but an AFP investigation of his online behavior reveals that he frequently used his account to amplify bogus claims made by some of the most well-known disinformers online.
The posts demonstrate Musk calling attention to false information about a variety of topics, including the conflict in Ukraine and the attack on the husband of US Representative Nancy Pelosi. The billionaire promoted an incorrectly suggested tweet last week.
Since buying Twitter for $44 billion almost six months ago, the billionaire has responded to the profile, which promotes the QAnon conspiracy theory, at least 40 times. In that time, he has only responded to a small number of additional accounts.
AFP examined thousands of comments Musk posted between late October and March using information from PolitiTweet, a website that followed prominent personalities' tweets before Twitter blocked its access.
He spread a fake CNN report, referred to a made-up statement as "wise words," and stated incorrectly that on January 6, 2021, police took a rioter through the US Capitol. He supported a bogus Ukrainian casualty statistic and pushed a post that blamed LGBTQ people for horrific massacres.
Additionally, Musk has played down Covid-19 and promoted unfounded assertions that vaccines can lead to blood clots, miscarriages, and cardiac issues.
Additionally, Musk has played down Covid-19 and promoted unfounded assertions that vaccines can lead to blood clots, miscarriages, and cardiac issues.
The proprietor of Twitter declared in March in response to a tweet listing Covid-19 and vaccination safety among the "biggest media lies" that "we are running out of 'conspiracies' that turned out to be true!"
After some time had passed, he tweeted that the "best way to fight misinformation is to respond with accurate information."
In addition to his internet power, experts think Musk's behavior is alarming.
Musk compelled his engineers to raise the number to 135 million Twitter followers.
But what these tweets tell about the judgment of the person who decides the policy of a significant social media site is what worries me the most.
Researchers have linked increases in misinformation to recent policy changes at Twitter, notably Musk's decision to reinstate suspended accounts and its revamping of verification procedures.
A business called NewsGuard, which evaluates the trustworthiness of websites, discovered accounts paying for Twitter subscriptions.
Some of these accounts are receiving attention thanks to Musk.
"Got the Elon Musk stamp of approval," commented "KanekoaTheGreat" on Telegram following one of these responses.
Since acquiring Twitter, Musk's connections with right-wing accounts have increased "staggeringly," according to a January report from the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue. This includes numerous accounts that earlier research has linked to the distribution of false information about the 2016 US election.
Musk has frequently boosted posts from sites like the anti-LGBTQ account "Libs of TikTok," the pro-Donald Trump page "Catturd," and the conspiracy website ZeroHedge.
According to AFP's study, Musk has replied at least 60 times to Ian Miles Cheong, a far-right writer, outpacing all but a few other profiles. In one case, Musk emphasized a tweet that criticized Joe Biden for an immigration policy.
Musk has frequently boosted posts from sites like the anti-LGBTQ account "Libs of TikTok," the pro-Donald Trump page "Catturd," and the conspiracy website ZeroHedge.
According to AFP's study, Musk has replied at least 60 times to Ian Miles Cheong, a far-right writer, outpacing all but a few other profiles. In one instance, Musk emphasized a tweet that blamed Joe Biden for a Trump-era immigration policy.
Musk is elevating some of the worst voices on Twitter," Nyhan told AFP. "These interactions are likely to increase the reach and prominence of the accounts."
At the time, Nancy Pelosi stated, "It's really sad for the country that people of that high visibility would separate themselves from the facts and the truth in such a blatant way." "It traumatizes people who are impacted by it. Obviously, they don't give a damn about that.
The auto-reply Musk introduced in March that uses the poop emoji was used by Twitter in response to AFP's requests for comment.
The social media platform, whose CEO is Elon Musk, altered its hateful content policy to remove a clause that particularly defends the trans community against targeted misgendering or deadnaming of individuals.
Prior to Musk's takeover, Twitter had a policy in place that forbade "targeted harassment, including repeated slurs, tropes, or content intended to dehumanize protected categories."
Prior to this change, the platform's policy on hate speech stated: "We prohibit targeting others with slurs, tropes, or other content that intentionally dehumanizes, degrades, or reinforces harmful stereotypes about a protected category.
This includes intentionally misgendering or referring to transsexual people by their dead names.
Edited By:Kanya Vengkateshwaran
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