Misleading Claims and Responses
and have propagated claims questioning Ukrainian President 's popularity, citing a 4% approval rating and labeling him a dictator, despite conflicting evidence from reputable polls showing Zelensky's approval around 57%-63%.
Musk's assertion that Zelensky is "despised" by Ukrainians and his refusal to hold elections has been challenged by experts and polls, suggesting a distortion of reality that aligns with Russian narratives. Zelensky and others have refuted the 4% claim, attributing it to Russian disinformation.
Community Notes and Its Implications
Musk announced efforts to "fix" the feature on X, accusing it of being manipulated by governments and legacy media, following its use to debunk misleading posts about Zelensky. This comes amid criticism of the feature's reliability and its impact on misinformation.
The controversy has sparked a broader debate on social media's role in spreading disinformation and the challenges of ensuring credible fact-checking. Musk's remarks have drawn attention from international figures and have been defended by some, while others criticize the alignment with Kremlin narratives.