Germany: Elon Musk sends legal warning to ZDF over 'defamatory' reporting

Elon Musk is preparing to take legal action against Germany's public broadcaster ZDF, accusing it of defamation. Through his lawyers, Musk contends that ZDF's reporting contained "defamatory" and "slanderous" claims that violated journalistic ethics.

“

the claim that our client called for the "hunting of migrants" by a "racist mob" is obviously untrue.

According to a legal notice sent by Musk's lawyer, Joachim Steinhöfel, to ZDF, the broadcaster's assertion that Musk requested "hunting migrants" from a "racist mob" is "obviously untrue." The notice further describes ZDF's references to Musk's posts concerning riots in Belfast as a "drastic violation of the principles of journalistic ethics" and "unlawful defamation."

The dispute originated from a post on Musk's platform X, following a knife attack in Belfast. Musk shared a message from activist Tommy Robinson, described as a far-right extremist, which stated, "The whole of the UK is going to streets tonight, after another Invader attack on our people." Musk added, "Only through repeated and loud protests will anything change."

“

Only through repeated and loud protests will anything change.

In its "ZDF heute" broadcast on June 12, ZDF stated, "A racist mob then hunted migrants: This was called for by a British far-right extremist and by the tech billionaire Elon Musk." Musk himself called the ZDF report a "scandalous and outrageous lie" on X. Even German journalists, like Sebastian Eberle, editor-in-chief of NDR, publicly disagreed with ZDF, calling the report "unacceptable."

“

A racist mob then hunted migrants: This was called for by a British far-right extremist and by the tech billionaire Elon Musk.

ZDF has since acknowledged that the presenter's wording was "inaccurate and therefore misleading." The broadcaster clarified that Robinson had called for protests after the Belfast attack, and Musk subsequently shared Robinson's post. ZDF has until Thursday afternoon to issue a statement. If they fail to retract the claims and commit to not repeating them, Musk's lawyers will advise him to initiate legal proceedings immediately.

“

scandalous and outrageous lie