In the latest controversy surrounding Elon Musk’s ownership of X (formerly Twitter), the billionaire has accused the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) of defamation. Musk claims that the ADL has falsely accused him and X of being antisemitic.
The Context: A History of Antisemitism on Social Media
Antisemitism has been a persistent problem on social media platforms, including Twitter. In 2016, the ADL published a report documenting the rise in antisemitic hate speech targeting journalists on the platform. The rhetoric of the 2016 presidential election contributed to this surge.
Musk’s Acquisition and the Rise of Hate Speech
Since Musk took over Twitter (now X), reports of hate speech have abounded. In January, a lawsuit was filed in Germany accusing the platform of mishandling Holocaust denial, which is a crime in the country. Four months later, Germany signaled that it would fine the social media platform for repeatedly failing to comply with social media hate speech takedown laws.
Musk’s Engagement with Antisemitic Content
Musk has been accused of invoking antisemitic tropes and conspiracy theories by targeting Jewish billionaire George Soros. In June, Musk boosted an antisemitic tweet that offered a choice between using blood taken from children (connected to a photo of U.S. President Joe Biden) or hating Jews (connected to a picture of actor Mel Gibson). Musk responded saying, "Gibson is really that buff these days?" This response has been seen as an example of Musk’s willingness to engage directly with antisemitic posts on his platform.
The Lawsuit Against the ADL
Musk claims that the ADL’s pressure on advertisers caused X’s lower-than-normal U.S. ad revenue. He accused the ADL of "f
