Misinformation and False Claims Flood Elon Musk’s Social Media Platform Following Israel-Hamas Conflict

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has been inundated with misinformation following the recent surprise attack by Hamas militants on Israel. Users on the platform have been sharing false and misleading claims about the conflict, with some even spreading a fake White House news release that falsely claimed the US would be sending billions of dollars in aid to Israel. Influencer Jackson Hinkle also shared the fake release, calling it a slap in the face to Ukraine. Musk himself added to the chaos by recommending users follow an account known for spreading misinformation. Both Musk and Hinkle later deleted their posts. Other false information shared on X includes a video that claimed to show Israeli generals captured by Hamas fighters, but was actually footage of separatists in Azerbaijan. Another post showed a video game clip but claimed it depicted an airplane being shot down during the conflict. The misinformation on X has alarmed experts and raised concerns about the platform’s ability to moderate content effectively. Changes to X’s policies under Musk have allowed propagandists and scam artists to thrive, with any user being able to purchase a verification checkmark for their account. This, along with the platform’s incentivization of frequent posting and monetization, has made it difficult to distinguish between legitimate news sources and misinformation. The viral nature of the misinformation highlights the struggle social media platforms face in dealing with falsehoods during major events. Twitter, in particular, has played a significant role in information sharing during conflicts, but the problem has become more pronounced under Musk’s ownership of X. Platforms like X and Telegram, which have fewer guardrails, have become hotbeds of misinformation, with malicious users becoming more adept at spreading falsehoods. The platforms are constantly playing catch-up in their efforts to combat misinformation.