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Elon Musk is under fire for attacking Wikipedia after volunteer editors updated his page to include allegations of a “Nazi salute” at Donald Trump’s inauguration. Musk called for a boycott of the nonprofit platform and escalated his criticism by posting puns referencing Nazi leaders.
This conflict fits into a broader pattern of Musk attempting to suppress information he deems unfavorable. In 2024, he controversially offered $1 billion to rename Wikipedia as “Dickipedia.”
Critics claim Musk uses his wealth and influence to control narratives about himself and his companies.
“He is the world’s leading free speech hypocrite,” said Seth Stern of the Freedom of the Press Foundation. Stern argued that Musk tolerates misinformation and criticism unless it targets him or his businesses.
“When that happens, he resorts to censorship, lawsuits, or other forms of suppression,” Stern added.
Musk has faced accusations of retaliating against critics, including journalists, employees, and activists. Tesla, his electric car company, has been accused of firing employees for reporting workplace issues or disagreeing with Musk.
In China, Tesla reportedly sought government censorship of critical posts and filed defamation lawsuits against individuals raising safety concerns.
Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, now X, marked a turning point. Despite initially advocating for free speech, he has been accused of suppressing dissent. Accounts of journalists, activists, and critics have been suspended, and links to rival platforms or stories critical of Musk’s companies have been blocked.
In addition, Musk has launched lawsuits against nonprofits like the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) and Media Matters for America (MMfA), accusing them of misrepresenting hate speech or misinformation on X. Critics argue these lawsuits aim to intimidate and drain resources rather than achieve legal victories.
Angelo Carusone, director of MMfA, described Musk’s strategy as a warning to other nonprofits. “He made an example of us to chill speech critical of him,” Carusone said. Legal experts argue that Musk uses lawsuits to “bleed his opponents dry” financially.
Musk’s critics, including Nora Benavidez of Free Press, worry his influence could extend to platforms like Wikipedia, one of the few remaining spaces dedicated to fact-checking and truth. While Wikipedia has issues with accuracy and bias, it remains resilient compared to major social media platforms.
As Musk gains greater political influence and proximity to power, concerns grow about how he may leverage his resources to suppress dissent. “It’s hard to predict how Musk might wield that power,” Stern said. “But his actions suggest a troubling trend.”
