Elon Musk faces accusations of profiting from tragedy following a study’s findings that X rewards hate targeting the Israel-Gaza war
A few weeks after overcoming Elon Musk’s legal challenge, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), an organization dedicated to combating hate online, has released new research on X (formerly Twitter). This study expands on previous investigations into Musk’s influence on online discourse by highlighting how the policy changes he implemented are benefiting individuals who spread hate speech, resulting in increased visibility, engagement, and even financial rewards through X’s subscription feature.
The CCDH analyzed the growth patterns of 10 prominent accounts that subscribe to X Premium and have shared anti-Semitic and/or anti-Muslim hate speech since October 7, 2023, when Hamas’ attack on Israel ignited the Israel-Gaza conflict. Some of these accounts had previously disseminated conspiracy theories related to COVID-19, according to the report.
The 10 accounts examined in the study, titled “Hate pays: How X accounts exploit the Israel-Gaza conflict for growth and profit,” include Jackson Hinkle, Dr. Anastasia Maria Loupis, Censored Men, Jake Shields, Dr. Eli David, Radio Genoa, Ryan Dawson, Keith Woods, Way of the World, and Sam Parker.
The CCDH discovered that these accounts were able to expand their reach on X after sharing hateful content about the conflict. The report provides examples of hate speech posted by these accounts, such as tweets featuring anti-Semitic imagery like the blood libel, or attempts to dehumanize Palestinians by portraying them as rodents.
“Each of the accounts experienced sluggish follower growth in the four months leading up to October 7th, with a combined increase of approximately 1 million followers. However, in the four months following the onset of the conflict, they collectively gained an additional 4 million followers,” stated the CCDH.
