In a surprise interview at Twitter’s San Francisco offices, Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, accused the BBC of spreading misinformation about Covid-19 vaccinations and masks, and of covering up the side effects of the vaccines. He claimed that the British government put pressure on the BBC to change its editorial policy, and that the broadcaster was guilty of double standards. Mr Musk did not elaborate on his allegations.
Allegations of BBC’s misinformation regarding masking and vaccinations
During the interview, Mr Musk asked if the BBC holds itself responsible for spreading misinformation regarding masking and the side effects of vaccinations. He questioned the fact that the BBC did not report on these issues at all. However, he did not provide any evidence to support his allegations.
BBC’s early coverage of masks now carries disclaimers
Some of the BBC’s early coverage of masks, in which experts questioned their effectiveness, now carry disclaimers about the original reporting. One such story, published in March 2020, says the story was based on the advice available at the time.
BBC editors asked journalists to avoid using the word “lockdowns”
Last month, the Guardian reported that BBC editors had asked journalists to avoid using the word “lockdowns” early in the pandemic on the urging of Downing Street. The BBC insisted at the time its decisions were editorially independent.
Elon Musk allegations of side effects of Covid-19 vaccination
Mr Musk has spoken about having “major side effects” after getting his second booster jab, which left him feeling as if he was “dying for several days”. However, the billionaire entrepreneur did not provide any scientific evidence to support his claim.
Elon Musk accused the journalist of lying about an increase in hate speech
During the interview, Mr Musk also accused the journalist of lying after he claimed there had been an increase in hate speech on Twitter since its $44bn takeover last year. Mr Musk said that the journalist was unable to provide any evidence of hateful content, and that his claim was false.
BBC journalists defended their line of questioning
BBC journalist James Clayton defended his line of questioning, citing an organization that has warned about a rise in hateful posts on the site. Groups such as the Anti-Defamation League and the Center for Countering Digital Hate have claimed there has been a surge in derogatory remarks against Black Americans since Mr Musk completed his takeover, while others have cited evidence of an increase in anti-LGBT abuse.
Elon Musk insists hate speech impressions have fallen
Despite the altercation, Mr Musk insisted that hate speech impressions have fallen, saying that people will say all sorts of nonsense. Since his takeover of the site, Mr Musk has revoked bans on hundreds of accounts previously barred for breaking Twitter’s rules on hate speech or misinformation.
Elon Musk agreed to remove Twitter label
Despite accusing the BBC of bias, Mr Musk said he would bow to the BBC’s demands and remove a Twitter label designating the corporation as “government-funded media”. He said he would alter the disclaimer to read “publicly funded”.
Mr Musk’s criticisms of Twitter
In the wide-ranging 20-minute interview, Mr Musk also criticized Twitter’s previous management, saying the company was being run like a non-profit and spending money like it’s going out of fashion. The Tesla chief has been slashing jobs in an effort to bring down costs, and Mr Musk admitted Twitter now had just 1,500 staff, down from 8,000 people when he took over the social network.
Mr Musk’s decision to strip the New York Times of its “blue tick”
Mr Musk addressed criticisms of his decision to strip the New York Times of its “blue tick” on the social network after the publisher refused to pay about $1,000 per month for the verification badge. Mr Musk said that it was a small amount of money, and he did not understand why the publisher had a problem with paying for it. He added that he wanted Twitter to treat everyone equally, without any anointed class of journalists compared to the public.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s accusations against the BBC of spreading misinformation about Covid-19 vaccinations and masks, and covering up the side effects of the vaccines, have raised concerns among the public. However, he did not provide any evidence to support his allegations. The BBC has declined to comment on Mr Musk’s claims. While the billionaire entrepreneur has made some valid criticisms of Twitter’s previous management, his decision to strip the New York Times of its “blue tick” has also drawn criticism. Overall, it is important to ensure that accurate information about Covid-19 vaccines and masks is shared with the public to help them make informed decisions about their health.
FAQs
- Did the BBC spread misinformation about Covid-19 vaccinations and masks?
- Elon Musk accused the BBC of spreading misinformation about Covid-19 vaccinations and masks, but did not provide any evidence to support his allegations.
- Has the BBC covered up the side effects of Covid-19 vaccines?
- Elon Musk accused the BBC of covering up the side effects of Covid-19 vaccines, but did not provide any evidence to support his allegations.
- Did the British government pressure the BBC to change its editorial policy?
- Elon Musk claimed that the British government pressured the BBC to change its editorial policy, but did not provide any evidence to support his allegations.
- Did Elon Musk experience side effects after getting vaccinated against Covid-19?
- Elon Musk claimed that he had major side effects after getting his second booster jab, but did not provide any scientific evidence to support his claim.
- Did Elon Musk strip the New York Times of its “blue tick” on Twitter?
- Yes, Elon Musk stripped the New York Times of its “blue tick” on Twitter after the publisher refused to pay about $1,000 per month for the verification badge.
