Elon Musk announced on Thursday that he would address an issue with a feature on his social media platform, X, that allows users to fact-check potentially misleading content. The issue, Musk stated, involved the platform being “gamed” in relation to posts about Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. His remarks came after former ally US President Donald Trump recently accused Zelensky of being a “dictator” and claimed he had instigated the war with Russia—views long propagated by Moscow.
This shift has prompted a surge of social media users, including European officials and journalists, to defend Zelensky and Ukraine on X. Many have used the platform’s “Community Notes” feature, which enables users to attach content to posts to debunk misinformation.
Musk commented on the situation, stating, “Unfortunately, @CommunityNotes is increasingly being gamed by governments & legacy media. Working to fix this.” He further argued that “a Zelensky-controlled poll about his OWN approval is not credible,” adding, “In reality, he is despised by the people of Ukraine, which is why he has refused to hold an election.”
The war between Russia and Ukraine began in 2022, and Zelensky’s five-year term officially ended last year, though Ukrainian law does not require elections during wartime. A recent poll from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology reported that Zelensky holds a 57% approval rating, maintaining his legitimacy.
Social media has long been a hotbed for disinformation, which remains a significant issue despite the decline of traditional journalism outlets, particularly in the United States.
Musk introduced Community Notes after acquiring Twitter (now X) in 2022, aiming to overhaul the platform’s safety and moderation features. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced last month that it would adopt a similar feature, moving away from professional fact-checkers.
In response to Trump’s recent comments, some moderate Republicans have also criticized the shift in rhetoric regarding Ukraine. Congressman Don Bacon from Nebraska wrote on X: “Putin started this war. Putin committed war crimes. Putin is the dictator who murdered his opponents. The EU nations have contributed more to Ukraine. Zelensky polls over 50%. Ukraine wants to be part of the West, Putin hates the West.” He added, “I don’t accept George Orwell’s doublethink,” referencing Orwell’s novel 1984.
