Elon’s X accused of push for hate

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, July 2, 2026

Elon Musk’s leadership of X (formerly Twitter) has led to a drastic reduction in content moderation staff and a more permissive approach to hate speech, resulting in a significant rise in antisemitic content on the platform. Experts testified that this shift not only jeopardizes user safety on X but also influences other social media companies, prompting calls for legislative action to enforce stricter responsibilities on digital platforms.

Elon Musk and his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, have been described as "dangerous" for shifting the online environment toward a permissive stance on hate speech, an expert told the Royal Commission into Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. Andre Oboler, CEO of the Online Hate Prevention Institute, testified that since Musk's acquisition of the company in 2022, the platform’s approach to content moderation moved to an "anything goes" philosophy.

Oboler highlighted that approximately 80 percent of the trust and safety staff were dismissed shortly after Musk took control, which he said significantly reduced the platform’s capacity to manage harmful content. This change, according to Oboler, not only impacted X but also influenced other social media giants. He pointed out that Mark Zuckerberg subsequently scaled back safety measures on Facebook and Instagram, actions he characterized as following Musk’s lead.

The commission heard that there has been a marked increase in antisemitic content on X, especially after the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. Despite this rise, Oboler said that his organisation encountered “difficulty” working with X, describing the platform environment as “toxic” and noting a lack of meaningful engagement over several years. He recounted an incident in which a doctored video of his testimony in a European Parliament hearing, overlaid with neo-Nazi imagery, was uploaded to X. While the content was eventually removed, the process of receiving a response from the platform took about 15 days.

Oboler further criticised the company for what he saw as a loss of will and capacity to maintain a safe space for users since Musk’s takeover. He mentioned that many individuals, including members of the Jewish community, had left X due to concerns over safety and the prevalence of antisemitic material. He also referenced a widely discussed moment at a post-election event where Musk was seen making a gesture that many observers interpreted as a Nazi salute, suggesting this as an example of the amplification of controversial content.

Adding to the discussion, Robert Nicholls, a senior research associate at the University of Sydney, called for legislative measures imposing a “digital duty of care” on social media companies. Nicholls argued that Australia currently lacks regulations that hold platforms accountable for protecting users from antisemitic content, underscoring the need for enforceable responsibilities to address online hate.

The testimony at the commission underscores growing concerns about how social media platforms manage hate speech and the impact of leadership changes on content moderation policies. While Musk’s approach prioritises free speech, critics warn it may contribute to an environment where harmful content, including antisemitism, can proliferate with insufficient oversight.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.