Netanyahu urges Musk to curb antisemitism and 'hatred' on X

[Eugene]

Source: The Hill

Netanyahu urges Musk to curb antisemitism and ‘hatred’ on X

BY SARAH FORTINSKY - 09/18/23 5:05 PM ET

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday urged tech billionaire Elon Musk to curb antisemitism and hatred on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“I know your commitment to free speech. I respect that because I think it’s an integral, it’s the foundational thing of democracies really, but I also know your opposition to antisemitism. You’ve spoken about it, tweeted about it,” Netanyahu said in a public conversation broadcast on X, which Musk owns.

“And all I can say is that I hope you find within the confines of the First Amendment, the ability to stop not only antisemitism — or roll it back as best you can — but any collective hatred of a people that antisemitism represents,” Netanyahu continued. “And I know you’re committed to that, I hope I hope you succeed in it. It’s not an easy task, but I encourage you and urge you to find a balance. It’s a tough one.”

Musk, who has described himself as a “free-speech absolutist,” has faced growing criticism from groups, such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which have accused him of allowing antisemitic rhetoric to go largely unchecked on X. In a report published in May, the ADL found more than 5,000 examples from February of “virulent antisemitism” from accounts it tracked that were reinstated on X and described the platform’s content moderation policies as “inadequate.”

-snip-

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/4210551-netanyahu-urges-musk-to-curb-antisemitism-and-hatred-on-x/

[no_hypocrisy]

1. "Curb?"

How about "Cease-and-Desist, Asshole!"

[elleng]

3. Right!!!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. Good luck with that!

[nevergiveup]

4. Oh shut up, Benjamin.

You yourself are a walking talking corrupt wanna be dictator. The fact that you would be talking about preserving democracies is a joke.

[JohnSJ]

5. The Washington Post described Musk as sidestepping any antisemitic denouncement

“While the meeting was largely cordial, Musk sidestepped Netanyahu’s call to forcefully denounce anti-Jewish hatred, which research shows has spiked on the platform since Musk bought it nearly a year ago. Musk has restored accounts previously banned for hate speech and has repeatedly criticized a prominent Jewish human rights organization, stoking a recent wave of antisemitic attacks.”

…….

“ Musk told Netanyahu that, while he’s personally against antisemitism, “free speech does at times mean that someone you don’t like is saying something you don’t like. If you don’t have that, then it’s not free speech.” He did not address his own role in promoting it.”

Funny how The Hill seems to “whitewash” Musk’s view, while the WP is much more direct on the assessment of Musk