Photo source : x.com/elonmusk/photo
Cape Town, South Africa – 18 May 2025
Tensions Sparked by Starlink Dispute
Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk is facing growing criticism for allegedly using X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to disseminate misinformation and politically charged propaganda targeting South Africa. The controversy follows the South African government’s refusal to grant Musk operating rights for his satellite internet service, Starlink, due to his reluctance to comply with the country’s transformation policies that require local partnerships.
Musk’s artificial intelligence venture, xAI, recently faced intense scrutiny when its chatbot Grok made unsupported claims about a so-called “white genocide” in South Africa. xAI later attributed the statements to an “unauthorized change” and pledged to update the system. Nonetheless, the incident renewed global concerns about political bias and misinformation in generative AI platforms.
Elon Musk appeared to raise a Nazi salute at a rally in support of former U.S. President Donald Trump—an act widely condemned as a gesture aligning with far-right, white supremacist ideologies. Critics argue that this incident, coupled with Musk’s inflammatory posts, reflect a broader agenda to cement white supremacy and stir racial tensions in the world and his birth country of South Africa, echoing ideologies tied with imperialism, slavery, and systemic racism.
The World’s Richest Man and His Growing Influence
Musk, currently the world’s richest individual with an estimated net worth of $381 billion according to Bloomberg, and $424.7 billion per Forbes, largely derives his wealth from ownership in Tesla and SpaceX. Despite describing himself as “cash poor,” Musk has broken multiple wealth records—becoming the first person to exceed net worth thresholds of $300 billion in 2021 and $400 billion by late 2024.
Since acquiring Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022 and rebranding it as X, Musk has implemented sweeping changes. The platform, once considered a stronghold for free speech, is now accused of algorithmically suppressing dissenting views and amplifying far-right content. These accusations have sparked widespread concern over X’s role in shaping global discourse.
X’s user base has been in steady decline, with monthly active users dropping from 368.4 million in 2022 to 335.7 million in 2024—a 5.14% decrease. Advertising revenue has also plummeted amid increasing criticism over the platform’s tolerance of hate speech and misinformation. By 2025, the company’s value had fallen to an estimated $9 billion—less than 20% of its original acquisition price.
The Rise of xAI and Questions of Accountability
Founded in March 2023, xAI is a public-benefit corporation focused on AI, social media, and technological innovation. However, its close ties to Musk’s media empire have led many to question whether its tools are being used for ideological influence rather than objective analysis or innovation.
As Elon Musk’s grip over major media, technology, and AI platforms tightens, so does the scrutiny over how that power is being wielded. From shaping international narratives to influencing political sentiment, critics warn that unchecked tech monopolies pose a threat to democratic discourse and racial equity—both in South Africa and worldwide.
