Elon Musk: 'State Actors' Fell for a 'Honey Pot'
X’s relatively new Community Notes feature gets called out by Musk.
Elon Musk says “state actors” fell for a “honey pot” that exposes what he believes to be the infiltration of his online Community Notes for the purpose of manipulating narratives as reported by National File, on a post addressing the plight of journalist Gonzalo Lira.
Lira, who is an American journalist being held prisoner in Ukraine, has become a symbol of the unhealthy relationship between mainstream media, politics, and international relations. Persecuted and imprisoned by the Ukrainian government led by President Volodymyr Zelensky, Lira's case has drawn international attention, raising questions about the Biden administration's response to his awful circumstances.
This, of course, comes shortly after the Biden administration went out of their way to trade a well-known arms dealer, Viktor Bout, to bring back stoner WNBA basketball player, Brittney Griner, who allegedly forgot she packed weed when she went to one of the most strict countries in the world when it comes to drug law enforcement. Perhaps the Biden administration feels obligated to not rock the boat when it comes to dealing with the Ukrainians. After all, our government has yet to halt handing over copious amounts of American tax money to Zelensky so he can support his alleged cocaine habit as well as sell weapons the U.S. is providing Ukraine to Hamas.
Elon Musk decided to thrust Lira's imprisonment situation into the social media spotlight in a post on the social media platform 𝕏, formerly known as Twitter. Musk inquired about President Joe Biden's stance on the American journalist's situation. Tucker Carlson's coverage of Lira's story on his 𝕏 program preceded this action, establishing Carlson as one of the most influential figures championing Lira's cause. Notably, this diverges sharply from the predominantly pro-Ukraine position held by mainstream media, which has noticeably refrained from addressing the issue, along with the U.S. government.
The story took a turn when it entered the realm of 𝕏’s relatively new Community Notes feature. Community Notes allows users to contribute additional context or information related to any post, creating a platform for dialogue and discussion, but as we see a potential tool to manipulate news. In this instance, according to Musk, pro-Ukraine users utilized this feature to challenge Lira's status as a journalist, asserting that he is, in reality, a YouTuber. As if reporting the news you cover on YouTube invalidates your status as a serious journalist. What a joke!
The Community Notes on Lira’s situation allege he simply is being detained for violation of Ukrainian laws and not being tortured:“…nor is there any evidence of him having been tortured.”
What added fuel to the fire was the fact that these Community Notes linked back to several pro-Ukraine U.S. media outlets. These outlets seemed to mimic the talking points of the Ukrainian government in their coverage of Lira's imprisonment.
In response to the Community Notes that raised doubts about Lira's journalist status, Elon Musk made another post that shook the digital realm. He called out what he referred to as "state actors" who, he alleged, had manipulated 𝕏’s Community Notes feature. Musk's audacious statement claimed that he had used his previous post as a "honey pot" to expose these alleged state actors.
Previous incidents have witnessed posts expressing criticism toward Ukraine inundated with Community Notes and responses from accounts that seemed to be pro-Ukraine sock puppets and suspected automated bots. These accounts raised suspicions of potential ties not only to the Ukrainian government but also to the American government.
In a follow-up post, Musk boldly declared, "This Note is being gamed by state actors. Will be helpful in figuring [out] who they are," revealing his intention to unmask those responsible for manipulating the platform.
In a playful tone, Musk thanked those who had engaged with his "honey pot" post, hinting at his unwavering commitment to maintaining transparency and integrity on his platform.
Elon Musk's actions have catapulted him into an unconventional battle against potential state-sponsored manipulation in the digital town square as the online world continues to shape public opinion and influence global discourse. Musk's vigilance serves as a striking reminder of the importance of addressing potential misinformation and interference on these social media platforms that have been exposed for their manipulation of information availability which many believe have done irreparable damage to the political landscape. An example of this would be the Big Tech censorship of right-wing politicians and commentators leading up to the 2020 election.
The recent showdown on Musk's 𝕏 platform and the allegations of manipulation via “state actors” in online Community Notes have shed light on the ongoing concern surrounding the role of social media in politics. The ability to shape public opinion and disseminate information rapidly has made social media a powerful tool. However, it has also become a battleground for false political narratives and ties to potential oversight by three-letter agencies.
As the posture of social media in politics continues to evolve, it becomes even more imperative to address the challenges it presents. In this digital age, where information spreads at unprecedented speeds, social media's influence on public opinion is undeniable. Yet, the unchecked proliferation of misinformation and the susceptibility to manipulation have raised concerns about the integrity of democratic processes. Finding solutions that preserve the essence of free speech while mitigating the harm caused by false narratives remains a complex task.
Furthermore, the involvement of intelligence agencies in monitoring and addressing threats in the digital space adds a layer of complexity. The delicate balance between protecting national security interests and respecting individual privacy and civil liberties requires constant reassessment.
“Unwavering commitment to maintaining transparency?” I recently discovered that my tweets are being buried under the “show additional replies” button at the bottom of the reply section of tweets. This despite me paying for a blue checkmark. Why? IDK. Is there a way to find out why? Not that I can discover. How is this transparent. If I did something “wrong,” tell me what.