Elon Musk sparks a new controversy by calling for a boycott of Wikipedia. The billionaire accuses the participatory encyclopedia of propagating a woke ideology through biased information. Discover the underside of this controversy which is shaking the web.
Billionaire Elon Musk, known for his controversial positions, has just launched a resounding call to boycott Wikipedia. In an inflammatory tweet published on his social network This virulent attack provokes strong reactions and revives the debate on the neutrality of Wikipedia.
Elon Musk goes to war against Wikipedia “wokism”
It was a little murderous sentence that ignited the powder. “Stop giving to Wokepedia until they restore balance to their editorial authority,” Elon Musk tweeted, calling on his more than 200 million subscribers to boycott the website. The billionaire, accustomed to public outbursts, claims that Wikipedia has fallen prey to an extreme progressive ideology, pejoratively described as “woke”.
According to Musk, the online encyclopedia, although renowned for its collaborative functioning and its claimed neutrality, would spread biased and misleading information. A serious accusation which calls into question the credibility and integrity of the site, the fourth most visited in the world with more than 7 billion monthly visits.
A budget allocated to “equity” that goes badly
Elon Musk’s attack comes days after the release of the annual budget report for the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that hosts Wikipedia. Of the 177 million dollars raised in 2023-2024 thanks to donations, no less than 31.2 million were allocated to an “equity” objective. An amount considered exorbitant by the whimsical entrepreneur.
Have you ever wondered why the Wikimedia Foundation receives so much money? It’s certainly not necessary to make Wikipedia work. So what is the money for?
– Elon Musk, October 2023
For the Wikimedia Foundation, this investment aims to “focus on the knowledge and communities that structures of power and privilege have left aside”. An unwelcome initiative in the eyes of Elon Musk, who sees it as proof of woke activism diverting Wikipedia from its original mission.
Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, steps up to the plate
Faced with Elon Musk’s offensive, Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia, quickly reacted to defend his project. “Wikipedia is neutral and will remain so,” he insisted, rejecting accusations of activism and bias. Wales ensures that the encyclopedia remains faithful to its founding principles of neutrality and objectivity, despite the billionaire’s recurring criticisms.
This is not the first time that Elon Musk has attacked Wikipedia. In October 2023, he was already wondering about the use of the funds raised by the platform. An attack which reveals a deep distrust towards a collaborative and open model, going against Musk’s dirigiste and centralized vision.
On Wikipedia, Elon Musk’s page tarnished by controversies
Ironically, the Wikipedia page dedicated to Elon Musk is far from painting a flattering portrait of the Silicon Valley troublemaker. We read in particular that the billionaire “facilitates the spread of conspiratorial discourse” on social networks and that some of his statements “relate to disinformation, sexism and racism”.
Unsavory mentions which undoubtedly aroused the ire of the main person concerned, quick to denounce media treatment which he considers biased and defamatory. By calling for a boycott of Wikipedia, is Elon Musk seeking to settle scores with a platform that hardly spares him?
Towards an open war between Musk and Wikipedia?
Beyond Elon Musk’s personal motivations, this new controversy risks shedding harsh light on the growing tensions between the Wikipedian model and the muscular vision held by the boss of Tesla and SpaceX. By calling out “wokism,” the billionaire seeks to delegitimize a collaborative project that escapes his influence and control.
But Wikipedia, with its 7 billion monthly visits and its reputation for exhaustiveness, has strong backs. Despite calls for a boycott, it is unlikely that the encyclopedia will suffer lastingly from Elon Musk’s criticism. On the contrary, this umpteenth controversy could strengthen the billionaire’s sulphurous aura and widen the gap with part of public opinion.
Musk may cry wolf, but Wikipedia is not about to waver. The encyclopedia has survived many controversies and attempts at destabilization. Its strength is its community of dedicated contributors and its commitment to neutrality.
– A source close to the Wikimedia Foundation
It remains to be seen whether Elon Musk will continue his anti-Wikipedia offensive or whether he will end up moving on to something else, according to his whims and his outbursts. One thing is certain: the troublemaker of social networks has not finished talking about him, even if it means attacking monuments like Wikipedia. And it is probably not a call for a boycott that will muzzle the free encyclopedia.
