Audit by external firms confirms X is less antisemitic than other platforms, claims Elon Musk

Elon Musk, owner of social media giant X, announced on Monday during an antisemitism conference that the platform boasts less antisemitic content compared to its competitors. Musk shared insights from audits commissioned by the company, emphasizing that external evaluations have revealed a lower prevalence of antisemitic material on X.

The disclosure came as Musk addressed concerns about the platform’s recent controversies, including a decrease in advertising support after Musk, last year, endorsed an antisemitic conspiracy theory put forth by an X user. Musk defended the platform’s commitment to free speech as a fundamental principle, emphasizing the importance of correcting misinformation.

During the conference in Krakow, Musk, who earlier in the day visited the Auschwitz-Birkenau site, discussed the alarming surge in antisemitism across Europe since the Israel-Hamas conflict erupted in October. The event, organized by the European Jewish Association (EJA), focused on addressing and combatting the rise of antisemitism.

Despite Musk’s claim of lower antisemitic content, he did not disclose the specifics of the audit, including the identity of the auditing entity or details from the report. Musk was interviewed on stage by US conservative journalist Ben Shapiro but did not entertain questions from other journalists.

When questioned about the platform’s approach to balancing free speech and combatting hate speech, Musk reiterated his stance in favour of free speech. He argued that allowing corrections to false information, such as Holocaust denial, was a more effective strategy than outright removal, asserting that free speech ultimately prevails.

(With inputs from agencies)