Elon Musk, the tech mogul and owner of the social media platform X, has been at the center of controversy due to his role in amplifying doubts about election security issues since the beginning of this year. A recent investigation by CBS News revealed that Musk has garnered nearly 3.3 billion views on X by spreading conspiratorial narratives related to elections, making him one of the most viral voices in the 2024 campaign.
Musk’s posts on X have raised concerns among public officials who are working to maintain Americans’ confidence in the election process amidst a wave of misinformation and disinformation. At a pro-Trump rally in Philadelphia, Musk made claims about statistical anomalies in the election results and repeated debunked claims about Dominion voting machines. Prior to this event, Musk had already established himself as a prominent disseminator of election misinformation on X.
One of Musk’s posts in July, alleging that Democrats were intentionally allowing illegal immigrants to enter the country to vote, gained significant traction with 45.8 million views. The CBS News Confirmed team conducted fact-checking on Musk’s election-related posts and found that 55% of them contained misleading or false statements, or amplified similar content from other accounts known for promoting voter fraud claims.
Despite requests for comment from CBS News, Musk did not respond. The investigation collected over 48,000 of Musk’s posts from the past four years, focusing on election-related topics. An analysis of nearly 17,000 posts from this year revealed that Musk had posted 361 times specifically about potential election fraud in U.S. elections, with each post averaging 9.3 million views due to his large following on X.
Experts are worried that Musk’s engagement with election fraud conspiracies could contribute to post-election chaos by spreading disinformation and undermining trust in the electoral process. David Becker, executive director of the Center of Election Innovation and Research, expressed concerns that Musk’s posts could be used to spread disinformation if Trump were to believe he was losing on election night.
Mekela Panditharatne, senior counsel for the Brennan Center for Justice’s Elections & Government Program, echoed these concerns, stating that Musk’s posts were fueling unfounded fears and preparing the ground for challenges to election results. Musk’s increased involvement with election conspiracies aligns with his shift towards the political right, as evidenced by his public endorsements and campaign appearances with former President Trump.
Musk’s posts have also sparked confrontations with election officials, such as Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, who corrected Musk’s false claims about voter registration numbers. The resulting backlash against Benson included threats and harassment, highlighting the real-world consequences of Musk’s online activities.
A significant portion of Musk’s posts focus on non-citizen voting, voting machines, and mail-in balloting, with many echoing far-right conspiracy theories. His engagement with accounts promoting extreme views has raised concerns about the potential impact on his followers and the broader online discourse. Researchers have noted a shift towards right-wing content in Musk’s interactions on X, with implications for the spread of misinformation and divisive rhetoric.
As the 2024 election approaches, experts are wary of the influence Musk’s posts could have on public perception and trust in the electoral process. The amplification of extreme viewpoints and false claims by Musk raises questions about the role of social media platforms in shaping political discourse and the integrity of democratic elections. It remains to be seen how Musk’s continued involvement in spreading election misinformation will impact the upcoming election and its aftermath.
