Some of the most influential sources of misinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict on Elon Musk’s X platform are premium, “verified” accounts. These accounts pay the platform, previously known as Twitter, to amplify their posts and enhance their visibility. A recent report unveiled on Thursday highlights this issue.
The challenge of discerning the truth in any conflict is immense, with opposing sides often promoting conflicting narratives. However, certain claims, which are undeniably and evidently false, are still gaining traction and reaching millions on X. This is partly attributed to modifications Musk introduced to the platform. NewsGuard, a company specializing in information analysis, discovered this trend.
NewsGuard identified seven accounts as “misinformation superspreaders” that have disseminated widely refuted claims about the conflict. These accounts, according to NewsGuard, are exploiting changes in X’s verification policy. This policy promotes posts from users who pay a monthly fee of $8. Moreover, verified users can also earn money from the platform, which financially encourages posts from those disseminating misinformation.
Among the most frequently shared misconceptions on X about the conflict are videos from past, unrelated conflicts. These are being reused to propagate false narratives about Israel and Hamas. NewsGuard’s analysis of 250 highly engaged posts from the conflict’s initial week revealed that these posts had over 1.3 million engagements and were viewed over 100 million times globally in just a week. Notably, 186 out of these 250 posts were from premium X accounts.
Following the release of NewsGuard’s report, Musk commented on X, suggesting that the company “should be disbanded immediately.” The European Union has also initiated an investigation into X concerning the dissemination of misinformation and unlawful content related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Previously, blue verified check marks on X were a sign that the platform had authenticated the individual or organization behind an account. However, Musk altered this policy earlier in the year, making the blue badge accessible to almost anyone willing to pay an $8 monthly fee for X Premium. Consequently, posts from these paying users are prioritized and are more likely to be viewed by a larger audience.
In a recent event, the stock market experienced a temporary decline after verified accounts on X circulated fabricated images of a supposed “explosion” near the Pentagon.
