Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked controversy and accusations of amplifying misinformation after sharing a post on his social media platform, X, that contained wildly inaccurate figures for the size of recent anti-immigration protests in Australia.
The post, which Musk shared with his vast following, claimed that "hundreds of thousands" of people had attended rallies across major cities including Sydney and Melbourne. This assertion stands in stark contrast to official estimates from law enforcement and independent observers, which placed the actual turnout in the low thousands.
The Stark Discrepancy in Numbers
According to detailed analysis by The Guardian, the claims propagated in the viral post are entirely unsubstantiated. Police reports and eyewitness accounts from the events suggest a significantly smaller scale of participation than the narrative being pushed online.
This incident has raised fresh concerns about the role of powerful tech figures in the rapid spread of unverified claims and their potential to influence public discourse based on falsehoods.
Amplifying Division
By sharing the post without verification, Musk is seen to be lending his immense platform to a divisive political movement in Australia. Critics argue that such actions, whether intentional or not, risk inflaming social tensions and legitimising misleading information.
The episode highlights the ongoing challenge platforms like X face in moderating content and preventing the viral spread of misinformation, particularly when it is endorsed by the platform's owner.
A Pattern of Behaviour
This is not the first time Musk's activity on X has drawn scrutiny. His penchant for engaging with and promoting content from fringe accounts and controversial figures has previously sparked debates about free speech, platform responsibility, and the power of individual influencers in the digital age.
The sharing of these incorrect Australian protest figures is being viewed by media analysts as a continuation of this pattern, further blurring the lines between a platform owner and a political commentator.
