Elon Musk has been accused of censorship after his social media platform X allegedly removed premium features from accounts critical of his stance in the ongoing fierce debate over immigration visas.
Several prominent conservative accounts have complained this week that their blue verification badge was revoked, preventing them from features such as the ability to monetize their content.
One account, called ConservativeOG, claimed that more than 50 users had been affected by apparent censorship by Musk, who prides himself on promoting free speech.
It comes after the South African-born Tesla boss and incoming White House official expressed support for H-1B visas, which allow highly-skilled foreigners to work in the US for six years, in instead of prioritizing American employees.
Musk even threatened this week to “go to war” with MAGA Republicans after defending visas, and Donald Trump surprised his loyal followers by siding with the SpaceX founder on the hot-button issue.
Now, Musk appears to have gone a step further by revoking privileges from X users who disagreed with his views, according to several prominent conservative accounts.
‘With Elon’s change regarding H-1B visas, we would now like answers for losing our gold check mark. Cooler heads must prevail to restore badges for our over-50 members. Right or wrong, this platform claims to defend free speech, so let’s see it in action,” ConservativeOG wrote on X.
‘We pay 1,000 a month for a “free speech platform”, that’s what we want!’
Elon Musk has been accused of censorship after his social media platform X allegedly removed premium features from accounts critical of his stance in the ongoing fierce debate over immigration visas.
Trump with far-right influencer Laura Loomer
Conservative expert Laura Loomer also weighed in.
‘Why do X users who pay for @premium have their posts listed as “probable spam” in my @elonmusk posts? This is censorship. I understand that you don’t like me, but is this nothing more than retaliatory censorship? she wrote in X.
The accounts were still active on Sunday. Some conservatives said the move was a betrayal of Musk’s promises to make X a haven for free speech when he bought the app, then called Twitter, in 2022.
Musk, who immigrated to the United States from South Africa and became a citizen in 2002, did not respond to requests for comment but posted about Algorithm X on Thursday evening.
“Just a reminder that the algorithm is trying to maximize unregretted user seconds,” Musk wrote.
“If verified and much more credible subscriber accounts (not bots) mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decrease significantly.”
But the post sparked more accusations that Musk has been banning his conservative critics by sabotaging their interaction with other users.
Preston Parra, 23, the influencer who runs the ConservativeOG account, accused Musk of organizing a “political takedown” in retaliation for publicly disagreeing with his views on visas and immigration.
“If anyone thinks for a minute that the REAL backbone of the right and MAGA will sit idly by while these big dumb Silicon Valley tech billionaires who weren’t bullied enough in high school steal our country, you’re wrong.” Parra said NBC News in a text message.
Parra said he believes Musk is a “Trojan horse” in the Trump camp. Several accounts have also referred to Musk as “the monarch”, suggesting that he has complete control over the website.
Musk even threatened this week to “go to war” with MAGA Republicans after defending visas, and Donald Trump surprised his loyal supporters by siding with the SpaceX founder on the hot-button issue.
Musk, who immigrated to the United States from South Africa and became a citizen in 2002, did not respond to requests for comment but posted about Algorithm X on Thursday evening.
On Saturday, the president-elect praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the US.
‘I have always liked visas, I have always been in favor of visas. That’s why we have them,” Trump said. New York Post.
In fact, Trump has criticized H-1B visas in the past, calling them “very bad” and “unfair” to American workers.
During his first term as president, Trump unveiled a “hire American” policy that directed changes to the program to try to ensure that visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most qualified applicants.
Despite his criticism and attempts to curb their use, he has also used visas in his businesses in the past, something he acknowledged in his interview on Saturday.
‘I have many H-1B visas on my properties. I have been a believer in H-1B. I have used it many times. “It’s a great program,” Trump told the newspaper.
He did not appear to answer questions about whether he would seek any changes to the number or use of visas once he takes office on Jan. 20.
On Saturday, the president-elect praised the use of visas to bring skilled foreign workers to the US.
Trump’s hardline immigration policies, focused primarily on immigrants in the country illegally, were a cornerstone of his presidential campaign and a top issue for his supporters.
But in recent days, his coalition has been divided in a public debate playing out largely online over the tech industry’s hiring of foreign workers.
Far-right members of the Trump movement have accused Musk and others in Trump’s new flank of tech supporters of pushing policies contrary to Trump’s vision of “America First.”
Software engineers and others in the tech industry have used H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers and say they are a critical tool for hard-to-fill positions.
But critics have said they undermine American citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be scrapped.