Key Points
- According to a Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) report, Musk’s misleading election claims on X have reached 2 billion views in 2024.
- Musk’s content moderation cutbacks have coincided with increased misinformation, especially in key states.
- Misleading claims about election interference in Pennsylvania and other swing states are spreading.
- AI-driven firms like Cyabra help flag viral disinformation, though challenges in combating it remain significant.
According to a report from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), misleading claims by Elon Musk about the U.S. election have garnered an estimated 2 billion views on his social media platform X this year. With a following of nearly 203 million, Musk’s reach has heightened concerns among election and misinformation experts who warn that X is enabling the spread of false information about key battleground states crucial to the 2024 presidential race.
Since Musk acquired X (formerly Twitter), the platform has significantly scaled back on content moderation, laying off thousands of employees. Musk, who has openly voiced support for former President Donald Trump, has used the platform to amplify claims about the election that fact-checkers have labeled as false or misleading. This year, at least 87 of Musk’s posts containing inaccurate election information accumulated around 2 billion views, according to CCDH.
A spokesperson for X highlighted the platform’s Community Notes feature, which allows users to provide additional context to posts. The spokesperson argued that Community Notes is more effective at helping people identify misleading content than traditional warning labels. However, concerns remain as the reduced moderation under Musk’s ownership coincides with a growing trend of misinformation on X, especially in critical swing states.
In Pennsylvania, a key swing state, misleading narratives about election interference have circulated widely on X. Some users falsely suggested that incomplete voter registration forms flagged by local election administrators were attempts to manipulate the voting process. Philip Hensley-Robin, Pennsylvania’s executive director at the nonpartisan organization Common Cause, clarified that these actions by election officials were standard procedures, ensuring only eligible voters participate.
Similarly, Cyabra, a company specializing in AI-driven disinformation detection, noted that an X account with 117,000 followers was pivotal in spreading a fake video showing mail-in ballots for Trump being destroyed in Pennsylvania. The video quickly went viral, escalating fears about the platform’s potential to influence public opinion through misleading content. While X took action against accounts sharing the video, the event underscores the challenges of moderating misinformation on such a large scale.
Experts like Carnegie Mellon professor Kathleen Carley emphasize X’s role as a “conduit” for content, allowing posts to cross over to other social media platforms, including Reddit and Telegram, amplifying misinformation. The network effects of Musk’s broad reach and minimal moderation on X highlight the need for vigilant fact-checking measures, especially as the U.S. election approaches.
