Elon Musk urged to address Grok’s election misinformation

Musk has faced criticism for X’s handling of misinformation, including his dissemination of controversial posts.

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Grok, an AI chatbot on X (formerly Twitter), has been accused of spreading false information about Vice President Kamala Harris’s eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot. An open letter from five US secretaries of state, led by Minnesota’s Steve Simon, calls for Elon Musk, CEO of X, to address this issue urgently. The letter claims Grok misled users by suggesting ballot deadlines had passed in several states despite them being valid.

The misinformation, disseminated widely before being corrected, has raised concerns about the accuracy of information on X. Although Grok includes a disclaimer urging users to verify facts, the incorrect claims were heavily circulated before being addressed.

The controversy highlights ongoing issues with X’s moderation policies. Under Musk, X has significantly reduced its moderation staff, which has affected its ability to manage misinformation effectively. Additionally, Musk has faced criticism for resharing misleading content and making provocative statements on social media.

The incident underscores X’s challenges in maintaining accurate information and the broader implications for online political discourse.