Elon Musk accused of amplifying violent speech on X after Belfast riots

Elon Musk, the world's first trillionaire, faces sharp criticism from researchers who accuse him of amplifying violent anti-immigrant discourse on his platform X, formerly Twitter. This comes in the wake of anti-immigration riots in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Researchers from the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) have denounced Musk's "determining" influence in disseminating anti-immigrant narratives and highlighted a surge in online calls for violence. They point to Musk's recent actions, where he shared posts from anti-immigration activist Tommy Robinson, urging his 240 million followers on X to protest "REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY." Musk also reposted messages from Rupert Lowe, a far-right leader heading the Restore Britain party.

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As the owner of X and its most followed user, Musk has unparalleled power to shape what users see. Our research shows he has exploited the tragedy in Belfast to amplify anti-migrant narratives to millions of users.

According to the CCDH, publications from these three individuals have garnered over 115 million views, with Musk himself generating 64 million of those views. Imran Ahmed, founder and CEO of CCDH, stated, "As the owner of X and its most followed user, Musk has unparalleled power to shape what users see." He added, "Our research shows he has exploited the tragedy in Belfast to amplify anti-migrant narratives to millions of users."

X did not respond to requests for comment from AFP. The violence in Belfast, described as "racist" by authorities, erupted after a knife attack involving a Sudanese refugee who was subsequently charged. These criticisms coincide with a significant surge in SpaceX's stock value, which has propelled Musk's net worth to unprecedented levels.

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REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY