Elon Musk’s X Accused of Failing to Tackle Rising Antisemitism, Study Finds
Elon Musk’s social media platform X — formerly known as Twitter — has become the “go-to platform for antisemitic content,” according to a year-long study released exclusively to CNN.
The research, conducted by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) in partnership with the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, paints a troubling picture of how antisemitism is spreading online. It concludes that antisemitic posts are not only rampant on X but are also being monetized and amplified, raising serious questions about the platform’s moderation policies.
Antisemitism Thriving on X
The study revealed that between February 2024 and January 2025, more than 679,000 antisemitic posts were published on X. These posts were collectively viewed 193 million times, highlighting the scale of the problem.
Using OpenAI’s GPT-4o model for detection, researchers analyzed the content and then manually verified 5,000 posts. They found that 59% spread conspiracy theories targeting Jewish people — including claims about Jewish control of governments, false narratives about the Holocaust, and disturbing satanic tropes. The remaining 41% were direct antisemitic abuse, ranging from insults and stereotypes to dehumanization.
Despite X’s written policies banning attacks based on race, religion, or ethnicity — and explicitly prohibiting Holocaust denial — the platform appears to be struggling, or unwilling, to enforce its own rules.
Community Notes Largely Ineffective
One of Musk’s flagship moderation tools, Community Notes, was found to be failing. These user-generated fact-checks are supposed to correct misinformation, but according to the study, they appeared on just 1% of the most-viewed antisemitic posts.
Even when community notes did appear, they often came too late, covering only 22% of a post’s total viewership. Researchers also found that out of the 300 most-viewed antisemitic posts, X took meaningful action on only 36 of them — either by limiting their reach or removing them altogether.
“The system is not functioning at the speed or scale required to address antisemitic content,” the CCDH report concluded.
Antisemitic Influencers on the Rise
The report also identified a group of 10 influential accounts that were responsible for nearly one-third of all antisemitic posts examined. Some of these influencers had follower counts in the hundreds of thousands, with one account boasting 2 million followers.
Alarmingly, six of these accounts were verified with X Premium, meaning they paid for blue checkmarks that boosted their visibility on the platform. Three were even allowed to sell paid subscriptions, directly profiting from antisemitic content.
CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed told CNN that this situation highlights the dangers of Musk’s approach to free speech:
“Antisemitism existed on Twitter before Musk, but seeing it tolerated, monetized, and amplified so openly is still shocking.”
Musk’s Approach to Free Speech
Since taking over Twitter in October 2022, Musk has positioned himself as a champion of free expression. He has reinstated accounts previously banned for spreading hate, including white supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes, arguing that it is better for harmful ideas to be exposed and rebutted publicly rather than suppressed.
In Musk’s own words:
“It is better to have anti-whatever out in the open to be rebutted than grow simmering in the darkness.”
But critics argue this approach has effectively turned X into what Musk once promised it wouldn’t be — a “free-for-all hellscape.”
High-Profile Visits and Promises
In January 2024, after backlash for reposting an antisemitic conspiracy theory, Musk visited Nazi concentration camps in Europe. During the visit, he insisted X remained committed to free speech while emphasizing that Community Notes were the solution to misinformation.
“We’ve put maximum resources and attention behind community notes,” Musk said. “If someone pushes Holocaust denial, they can be corrected immediately.”
However, the study’s findings show that this system is largely ineffective, with antisemitic posts reaching massive audiences before corrections are added, if at all.
Legal and Financial Backdrop
X’s struggle with antisemitism has also played out in court. In 2023, Musk’s company sued the CCDH, claiming its research on hate speech had violated X’s terms of service and caused “tens of millions” in damages.
But in March 2024, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit, calling it punitive rather than a legitimate attempt to protect the platform’s rights. The ruling was seen as a major setback for X and a validation of watchdog efforts to scrutinize hate speech online.
A Platform at a Crossroads
The revelations raise serious concerns about the direction of X under Musk’s ownership. While the billionaire insists he is protecting free speech, critics say his policies are enabling harmful narratives and giving extremists the tools to grow their influence.
For Jewish communities and advocacy groups, the findings reinforce fears that social media platforms are failing to protect vulnerable groups — and, in X’s case, even helping antisemitic influencers profit.
Ahmed summarized the danger bluntly:
“For Jews, Musk has turned X into precisely the kind of hellscape he once promised to avoid.”
As antisemitism rises globally, watchdogs argue that X’s role cannot be ignored. The question now is whether Musk will act to strengthen moderation — or continue down a path where hate speech thrives in the name of free expression.