For several months, billionaire Elon Musk, who now owns X, has leveraged his platform to disseminate unfounded election conspiracy theories, raising concerns about the potential erosion of public confidence in the integrity of the upcoming 2024 election results. In a significant escalation last week, the political action committee (PAC) that Musk champions initiated a new group on X named the Election Integrity Community, which has quickly attracted almost 50,000 members. This group claims its purpose is to create a forum where users can report any alleged incidents of voter fraud or irregularities they encounter while participating in the electoral process for the 2024 election.
In reality, however, the group has devolved into a hotbed for conspiracy theories related to the election, peddling wild allegations that range from assertions of undocumented immigrants casting illegal ballots to criticisms about misspellings of candidates’ names appearing on voting materials. “It’s just an election denier jamboree,” states Paul Barrett, the deputy director of the Center for Business and Human Rights at New York University, who recently authored a comprehensive report detailing how social media platforms can foster political violence.
Since publicly endorsing former President Donald Trump after the first assassination attempt against him in July, Musk has cemented his role as one of Trump’s key financial supporters, contributing over $100 million to the America PAC since that pivotal moment. This PAC has emerged as a crucial driving force behind the Trump campaign’s efforts in competitive swing states, effectively coordinating grassroots initiatives to galvanize voter support. Investigative reporting by WIRED revealed unsettling details about Blitz Canvassing, a contractor employed by the PAC, which has allegedly subjected canvassers in Michigan to threats and facilitated their movement using U-Haul trucks, raising serious ethical questions.
Earlier in October, Musk made headlines by appearing at a rally for Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, where he unabashedly repeated falsehoods that Democrats were colluding to enable undocumented immigrants to cast their votes illegally. He further urged Trump’s base to mobilize and participate in the upcoming election, amplifying misinformation among supporters.
The platform, previously known as Twitter, took the controversial step of banning Trump’s account following his incitement of violence during the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol back in January 2021. However, under Musk’s leadership and rebranding of the platform as X, numerous staff members who were instrumental in combatting misinformation have been laid off. Last year, a significant portion of what remained of the elections integrity team was also dismissed. In response to the dismissals, Musk posted a contentious message on X, sarcastically claiming, “Oh you mean the ‘Election Integrity’ Team that was undermining election integrity? Yeah, they’re gone.”
Barrett emphasizes that the America PAC’s Election Integrity Community serves to bolster the efforts of other election-denying organizations, including the Election Integrity Network led by former Trump adviser Cleta Mitchell. “This is a parallel anti-election, anti-democracy campaign designed to sow confusion and lay the groundwork for baseless objections to elections after Election Day. This is going on all across the country, and it’s extremely dangerous,” Barrett warns. “And we’re going to see the results of it almost immediately when the polls close on November 5th.”
**Interview with Paul Barrett, Deputy Director of the Center for Business and Human Rights, NYU**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Paul. You’ve been closely monitoring the activities surrounding Elon Musk’s new Election Integrity Community on X. Can you provide us with a brief overview of what this community aims to achieve?
**Paul Barrett:** Thank you for having me. The community was ostensibly created to provide a platform for users to report any alleged voter fraud or irregularities, particularly as we approach the 2024 elections. However, what we’ve seen in practice is quite the opposite. Instead of creating a meaningful dialogue about election integrity, it has become a breeding ground for unfounded conspiracy theories and baseless allegations.
**Editor:** You described it as an “election denier jamboree.” Can you elaborate on some of the more extreme claims being shared within this group?
**Paul Barrett:** Absolutely. The claims range from allegations of undocumented immigrants casting illegal ballots to people fixating on the most trivial details—like misspellings of candidates’ names—suggesting these are signs of fraud. Such a narrative is not just misleading; it can also provoke fear and mistrust in the electoral process, which is deeply concerning as we approach a crucial election.
**Editor:** Since Musk has openly supported Donald Trump, how do you see his influence affecting voter sentiment and the integrity of the electoral process?
**Paul Barrett:** Musk’s financial backing and public endorsement of Trump significantly amplify Trump’s messaging, particularly within swing states. His status as a billionaire lends undue credibility to unsubstantiated claims, potentially eroding public confidence in the electoral system. This could create an environment where people distrust legitimate results and, unfortunately, may lead to political intimidation or violence.
**Editor:** What ramifications do you foresee if these conspiracy theories continue to proliferate on platforms like X?
**Paul Barrett:** If this trend continues, we might witness a substantial decline in public trust in elections. More alarmingly, we may also see the normalization of political violence and intimidation. As my report highlights, social media platforms can serve as catalysts for these behaviors, making it essential for both platform owners and policymakers to take proactive measures to mitigate these risks.
**Editor:** Thank you, Paul. Your insights shed light on the significant challenges we face with misinformation in the digital age, especially surrounding our electoral processes.
**Paul Barrett:** Thank you for the opportunity to discuss these critical issues. It’s vital we remain vigilant as the elections approach.
