Tech billionaire Elon Musk is investigating claims that the Harris-Walz presidential campaign is attempting to manipulate community notes on X to influence narratives in their favor. Musk took to X, the social platform he owns, to acknowledge the allegations and emphasize that his team is probing the situation.
Musk Acknowledges Allegations and Launches Investigation
The accusations were initially shared by an account on X, featuring screenshots of a report from The Federalist. The report detailed efforts by campaign organizers to artificially push favorable narratives through platforms like Discord and Reach. According to the report, paid Harris staffers allegedly crafted their own community notes and encouraged volunteers to upvote these notes to gain wider traction.
Report from The Federalist Reveals Campaign Tactics
Screenshots and documents from The Federalist showed how Harris campaign organizers allegedly used Discord to write and promote community notes that would help spread their preferred messages. Volunteers were urged to engage actively to amplify the campaign’s narrative.
How Community Notes Work to Combat Misinformation
The community notes feature, introduced to X after Musk acquired the platform, aims to crowdsource fact-checking by allowing users to identify and highlight misinformation. This system is designed to ensure that viral claims, especially those prone to spreading unchecked, are met with robust and factual counterpoints. However, community consensus is key, as notes must resonate even with individuals who typically hold opposing viewpoints to be effective.
Discord Users Express Frustration Over Limited Success
Despite the campaign’s alleged efforts, the report suggests that X’s mechanisms have successfully filtered out malicious actors. In one instance, a Harris-Walz Discord user voiced frustration, stating their inability to spread propaganda as intended:
“It’s because the [community notes] system is looking for notes that get people who normally disagree with each other to agree the note is worthwhile. So a [community note] needs people who normally believe misinformation to cross over and agree that, in fact, this case is misinformation.”
Violation of X’s Terms of Service Sparks Outrage
The report called these attempts a “gross violation” of X’s Terms of Service, which explicitly forbid the artificial amplification of content.
In response, Musk confirmed his team is taking the matter seriously, stating, “We are investigating this,” on Wednesday.
Musk’s Response: Investigation in Progress
As scrutiny around the Harris-Walz campaign grows, X users and political observers will be watching closely to see the results of Musk’s investigation. The stakes are high, and any proven attempt to manipulate the platform’s fact-checking tools could have far-reaching consequences.
