Prominent right-wing accounts have accused Elon Musk of suppressing dissent on X after losing premium features for criticizing his pro-legal immigration stance.
At least 14 conservative accounts reported the removal of their blue tick verification badge, which grants monetization privileges to premium users, according to NBC News. The affected users expressed concerns over their ability to continue posting on the platform.
The controversy erupted after Musk, in a Friday night post, labeled some anti-immigration Republicans as “contemptible fools” and “hateful, unrepentant racists,” warning they could “be the downfall of the Republican Party if not removed.”
Critics have alleged that Musk’s actions amount to shadowbanning—a practice where an account’s visibility is deliberately reduced without formal acknowledgment.
Musk, who acquired X (formerly Twitter) in 2022, has championed a “freedom of speech, not freedom of reach” policy. Under this framework, negative posts are not banned but are “max deboosted,” making them less discoverable. Musk previously stated this approach applies to individual posts, not entire accounts.
On Thursday, Musk appeared to double down on this policy, posting on X: “If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly.”
The statement fueled speculation that dissenting voices were being suppressed, particularly among those critical of Musk’s immigration views. Neither Musk nor X has responded to NBC News’ requests for comment.
The censorship accusations come amid a heated national debate on immigration, sparked in part by Donald Trump’s appointment of Indian-born entrepreneur Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence—a move supported by Musk.
Musk, a vocal proponent of legal immigration, has clashed with segments of the Republican base over the issue. Critics within the MAGA movement argue that his stance undermines American workers, while Musk contends that legal immigration is essential for sustaining innovation and economic growth.
Musk has positioned himself as a free-expression advocate, yet his critics point to instances where he has called for jailing detractors and enforcing policies that they claim disproportionately affect dissenting voices.
The debate over Musk’s handling of free speech on X underscores the broader challenges of balancing platform governance with ideological neutrality, particularly in politically charged environments.
Source: news.sky.com
