The rise of antisemitism on the world’s internet platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic has been well documented. However, its evolution and dissemination took a sharp turn when tech mogul Elon Musk came out in favor of powered by Israeli high-tech companies.
Musk’s endorsement of Jewish-backed products have caused an immense surge of antisemitism online in recent months. Social media platforms have become the primary destination of hateful comments, both from those who feel emboldened by Musk’s gestures and those opposed to them.
The debate kicked off back in June when Musk announced that Tesla was developing a joint venture with the Israeli based company Mobileye – an artificial intelligence platform specializing in autonomous driving systems. The backlash was immediate with anti-semitic protesters calling for a boycott of Tesla and its products.
The situation deteriorated when Musk, in response to the criticism, publicly voiced his support for Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His defense of Israel was met with overwhelming approval among Israeli citizens but it also skyrocketed the waves of antisemitism on social media platforms.
Racist comments and anti-semitic memes have flooded Facebook and Twitter feeds ever since. Prominent Twitter users, such as mega-influencer Tariq Nasheed, have posted inflammatory rants against Musk, claiming that the tech magnate is aiding the colonization of Palestine in collaboration with Israeli tech companies.
The surge of online antisemitism is a direct result of Musk’s actions in the Middle East. Even though the protest directed at him are motivated by political criticism of Israel, they have further embolden hate-mongers who have been using the platform to perpetuate antisemitic messages. It is a worrying reminder of how quickly animosity on the internet can be amplified by the wrong endorsement.
The rise of antisemitism on the world’s internet platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic has been well documented. However, its evolution and dissemination took a sharp turn when tech mogul Elon Musk came out in favor of powered by Israeli high-tech companies.
Musk’s endorsement of Jewish-backed products have caused an immense surge of antisemitism online in recent months. Social media platforms have become the primary destination of hateful comments, both from those who feel emboldened by Musk’s gestures and those opposed to them.
The debate kicked off back in June when Musk announced that Tesla was developing a joint venture with the Israeli based company Mobileye – an artificial intelligence platform specializing in autonomous driving systems. The backlash was immediate with anti-semitic protesters calling for a boycott of Tesla and its products.
The situation deteriorated when Musk, in response to the criticism, publicly voiced his support for Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His defense of Israel was met with overwhelming approval among Israeli citizens but it also skyrocketed the waves of antisemitism on social media platforms.
Racist comments and anti-semitic memes have flooded Facebook and Twitter feeds ever since. Prominent Twitter users, such as mega-influencer Tariq Nasheed, have posted inflammatory rants against Musk, claiming that the tech magnate is aiding the colonization of Palestine in collaboration with Israeli tech companies.
The surge of online antisemitism is a direct result of Musk’s actions in the Middle East. Even though the protest directed at him are motivated by political criticism of Israel, they have further embolden hate-mongers who have been using the platform to perpetuate antisemitic messages. It is a worrying reminder of how quickly animosity on the internet can be amplified by the wrong endorsement.
