TL/DR –
Elon Musk, since buying and rebranding Twitter as X, has made claims about the US voting system similar to those previously made by Donald Trump, sparking concern among civil rights lawyers and Democrats. Musk has removed the platform’s system for flagging false election content, arguing it amounted to election interference, which has led to fears that he will reignite doubts about the US election system. His posts about the voting system have reached large audiences and have been criticized by the Biden campaign, which has labeled the spread of false information as “profoundly irresponsible”.
Elon Musk’s impact on the 2024 elections
In 2020, President Donald Trump used Twitter to claim that increased mail-in ballots would lead to a rigged election. Twitter debunked his claims, but this year Elon Musk, the new owner of the platform (rebranded as X), reiterated the claims about the American voting system. However, there were no fact checks this time around and his posts garnered millions of views. You can read more about the original fact-checking here.
Musk purchased Twitter, removed the platform’s system for flagging false election content, and his control over the site has caused concerns among lawyers and election experts. They fear a resurgence of doubts about the American election system similar to those leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021 riot. Musk’s influence on election content has been criticized by the Biden campaign, while pro-Trump Republicans praise the platform’s changes. You can learn more about these different viewpoints here.
None of the major media owners have personally involved themselves in an American election like Elon Musk, who has urged followers to vote Republican and has expressed disdain for President Biden. Musk also dismissed advertiser complaints and blocked content that may undermine democracy. X, under Musk’s control, has favoured his perceived competitors while reinstating previously banned accounts. Accounts like @KanekoaTheGreat, an influencer spreading false charges about the 2020 election, drew nearly 22 million views. More information about these false charges can be found here.
Despite Musk’s measures, platforms like Facebook and YouTube, which had comparable policies, were flooded with election lies. Critics argue that these platforms didn’t do enough to control misinformation. Musk claimed that his actions enhance election integrity and dismissed these criticisms. You can find out more about Musk’s stance here.
Musk’s recent posts about the American election system have raised concerns. For instance, he falsely claimed that noncitizens are not prevented from voting and that Democrats are importing voters. His posts foster doubts about voting systems, which some election officials believe contributes to an already tense climate for election workers. Find out more about the laws prohibiting noncitizens from voting here.
The Biden campaign also shares these concerns but with the complaint line between the campaign and the platform no longer active, the campaign has limited options to address these issues.
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