Elon Musk's rebranded social media platform, X, recently stirred controversy by promoting conspiracy theorist Alex Jones' account, even for users who don't follow X. This move is a small piece of the larger puzzle illustrating how the platform, once known as Twitter, has been increasingly endorsing extreme and questionable viewpoints under Musk's billionaire ownership.
On Monday, Jones' conspiracy-laden posts appeared in the "For You" feeds of certain users who didn't follow him, making his account a recommended follow for others, and featuring his name under the "Hot Topics" and "Trending Topics" sections on X. Musk further supported Jones by hosting a live interview with him, giving the discredited figure over 1.6 million new followers.
Musk's backing of Jones is only the latest episode in X's penchant for promoting divisive and potentially dangerous content. Since Musk assumed control last year, he has also revived numerous other controversial figures' accounts, such as deniers and far-right and neo-Nazi personalities.
Jones, most famously, indulges in spreading false conspiracy theories about the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which took the lives of 26 individuals in 2012. Despite continuing to disseminate inaccuracies surrounding the tragedy, he was ordered to pay nearly a billion dollars in damages for defamation to the families of the victims in a 2021 trial.
During a Sunday livestream watched by millions, Musk allowed Jones to lie about harassing the Sandy Hook families, falsely implying he only asked questions about the event. The conversation saw numerous conspiracy theories being propagated on various topics, including climate change, globalists, and censorship.
According to Joe Benarroch, head of the business department for X, who spoke to CNN, the platform's guidelines forbid promoting Jones or Infowars and do not allow advertising on their accounts. However, since Musk took over the company, X has been selectively enforcing these regulations.
Last year, datasentics reported a sharp rise in hate speech on X following Musk's acquisition. Despite Musk's pledge to combat inauthentic accounts, there has been no significant reduction in their concentration. Moreover, some studies suggest an increase in inauthentic activity.
Jones, who was banned from the platform in 2018 for violating its misconduct rules, has a long history of making false claims, including organizing an event promoting violence at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. His return to the platform occurs just a few days following Musk's apology for a controversial contribution that received widespread condemnation.
In 2016, Jones also spread dangerous "Pizza-Gate" conspiracy theories and contacted brands that left the platform during a recent interview.
Upon purchasing the platform, Musk stated that he wouldn't restore Jones' account due to his false Sandy Hook statements. However, recent events suggest he has been influenced by right-wing pressure to reverse this decision.
While Musk has claimed that hate speech on the platform has not increased, data from datasentics indicates otherwise. Additionally, he has faced backlash and criticism over his handling of content moderation, with concerns that the platform will become a breeding ground for misinformation and disinformation, harassment, and hate speech.
