Elon Musk, the sulphurous billionaire, attacks Wikipedia. At issue: a mention of his controversial salute during Trump’s inauguration, perceived by some as a Nazi gesture. The boss of X accuses the online encyclopedia of relaying media “propaganda”. But the founder of Wikipedia responds…
Billionaire Elon Musk, owner of the social network X (formerly Twitter), is once again at the heart of a controversy. This time, he attacks the collaborative online encyclopedia Wikipedia. The reason? A reference on the businessman’s page to his controversial salute during Donald Trump’s inauguration, seen by some as a gesture reminiscent of the Nazi salute.
A controversial greeting now mentioned on Wikipedia
During the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in January 2017, Elon Musk was photographed giving an ambiguous salute to the crowd. Although the main person concerned had denied it, many observers and historians had seen a disturbing similarity with the Nazi salute. This episode is now the subject of a mention on Elon Musk’s Wikipedia page, as well as on the one dedicated to the Nazi salute.
Wikipedia states that the gesture was “perceived by a number of observers as a Nazi salute” while indicating that Elon Musk denied this interpretation. But this was not enough to appease the anger of the billionaire, who accuses the encyclopedia of relaying the “propaganda” of traditional media, its preferred target.
Elon Musk calls to no longer fund Wikipedia
On X, Elon Musk published a message calling on his supporters to stop all funding of Wikipedia. The head of Tesla and SpaceX believes that the online encyclopedia, which aims to be neutral and factual, would in reality relay mainstream media propaganda against him.
Wikipedia has lost all objectivity. It has become a propaganda organ subject to the powerful traditional media. Don’t give them another cent!tweeted Elon Musk
The founder of Wikipedia responds with irony
Faced with the billionaire’s attacks, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales was quick to respond, not without a certain irony. Also on X, he responded to Elon Musk in these terms:
Facts, not propaganda. Elon is not happy that Wikipedia is not for sale.retorted Jimmy Wales.
A reference to Elon Musk’s purchase in 2022 of the social network Twitter (now X) for the astronomical sum of $44 billion. The message is clear: unlike the blue bird platform, Wikipedia is not for sale and intends to preserve its independence.
Wikipedia’s neutrality in question
If Wikipedia wants to be a collaborative project open to contributions from around the world in a spirit of neutrality, the question of its objectivity is regularly debated. Some criticize him for an ideological bias, often progressive. Others point to the editing wars that can rage on certain controversial subjects.
But for Jimmy Wales, despite these difficulties, the principles of Wikipedia remain intact. In an interview given last December, he said:
Wikipedia’s goal is to enable editors to create content that is clear and recognizes the different points of view that exist despite the rise of feelings of division, partisanship, and culture wars.he explained
X, haven of freedom of expression or disinformation?
For his part, Elon Musk claims to have made X (formerly Twitter) a space of absolute freedom of expression since his takeover. But his detractors accuse him above all of having allowed disinformation to spread massively, in particular coming from the radical right and supporters of Donald Trump.
The system of moderation by community notes set up by the billionaire to verify content is far from unanimous. Many fear that it will mainly serve to put forward certain ideas and opinions without regard for the facts.
Elon Musk, an influential and divisive boss
With his strong positions and his frequent controversies, Elon Musk has established himself as one of the most influential but also the most divisive personalities in Silicon Valley. Adored by some, hated by others, the whimsical billionaire leaves no one indifferent.
His supporters salute his visionary genius and his fight for unhindered freedom of expression. His critics denounce his oversized ego, his disregard for the rules and his murky role in the dissemination of false information and conspiracy theories.
Regardless, through his media omnipresence and his hyperactivity on social networks, Elon Musk has become a central player in public debate in the digital age. Each of his speeches is carefully scrutinized and extensively commented on, as evidenced by this new controversy with Wikipedia.
Will the online encyclopedia remain a neutral space?
It remains to be seen whether the confrontation between the billionaire and the collaborative encyclopedia will mark a turning point. Will Wikipedia manage to protect itself from external pressures to remain this unique project, supported by thousands of volunteer contributors around the world?
-Or will the repeated attacks from powerful public figures like Elon Musk end up weakening this symbol of a free and participatory internet? Time will tell. But one thing is certain: in the age of post-truth and fake news, the fight for reliable and verified information has never been so crucial. And Wikipedia intends to stay on the front line.
On X, Elon Musk published a message calling on his supporters to stop all funding of Wikipedia. The head of Tesla and SpaceX believes that the online encyclopedia, which aims to be neutral and factual, would in reality relay mainstream media propaganda against him.
Wikipedia has lost all objectivity. It has become a propaganda organ subject to the powerful traditional media. Don’t give them another cent!tweeted Elon Musk
The founder of Wikipedia responds with irony
Faced with the billionaire’s attacks, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales was quick to respond, not without a certain irony. Also on X, he responded to Elon Musk in these terms:
Facts, not propaganda. Elon is not happy that Wikipedia is not for sale.retorted Jimmy Wales.
A reference to Elon Musk’s purchase in 2022 of the social network Twitter (now X) for the astronomical sum of $44 billion. The message is clear: unlike the blue bird platform, Wikipedia is not for sale and intends to preserve its independence.
Wikipedia’s neutrality in question
If Wikipedia wants to be a collaborative project open to contributions from around the world in a spirit of neutrality, the question of its objectivity is regularly debated. Some criticize him for an ideological bias, often progressive. Others point to the editing wars that can rage on certain controversial subjects.
But for Jimmy Wales, despite these difficulties, the principles of Wikipedia remain intact. In an interview given last December, he said:
Wikipedia’s goal is to enable editors to create content that is clear and recognizes the different points of view that exist despite the rise of feelings of division, partisanship, and culture wars.he explained
X, haven of freedom of expression or disinformation?
For his part, Elon Musk claims to have made X (formerly Twitter) a space of absolute freedom of expression since his takeover. But his detractors accuse him above all of having allowed disinformation to spread massively, in particular coming from the radical right and supporters of Donald Trump.
The system of moderation by community notes set up by the billionaire to verify content is far from unanimous. Many fear that it will mainly serve to put forward certain ideas and opinions without regard for the facts.
Elon Musk, an influential and divisive boss
With his strong positions and his frequent controversies, Elon Musk has established himself as one of the most influential but also the most divisive personalities in Silicon Valley. Adored by some, hated by others, the whimsical billionaire leaves no one indifferent.
His supporters salute his visionary genius and his fight for unhindered freedom of expression. His critics denounce his oversized ego, his disregard for the rules and his murky role in the dissemination of false information and conspiracy theories.
Regardless, through his media omnipresence and his hyperactivity on social networks, Elon Musk has become a central player in public debate in the digital age. Each of his speeches is carefully scrutinized and extensively commented on, as evidenced by this new controversy with Wikipedia.
Will the online encyclopedia remain a neutral space?
It remains to be seen whether the confrontation between the billionaire and the collaborative encyclopedia will mark a turning point. Will Wikipedia manage to protect itself from external pressures to remain this unique project, supported by thousands of volunteer contributors around the world?
Or will the repeated attacks from powerful public figures like Elon Musk end up weakening this symbol of a free and participatory internet? Time will tell. But one thing is certain: in the age of post-truth and fake news, the fight for reliable and verified information has never been so crucial. And Wikipedia intends to stay on the front line.
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