So, Elmo’s official account on X was hacked on Sunday. It resulted in a thread of racist dog whistles and antisemitic tropes that drew justifiable outrage. The unauthorized person responsible for the breach encouraged the Trump administration to publish the files. These files are the basis for the controversial Jeffrey Epstein investigation. This incident marks yet another ugly, high-profile hacking case since 2022 when Elon Musk took over the platform. It raised grave questions about the adequacy of existing security measures.
In addition to retrograde content, the hacked account added a link to a Telegram channel. This channel recently called out a possible DOT cryptocurrency scam. It offered a sometimes chilling glimpse into how the malicious hacking and financial fraud schemes could be connected. In the wake of the incident, Elmo’s account has deleted the abusive posts, but the reputational damage may be long lasting.
This breach occurs as part of a deeply concerning pattern of high profile accounts being hacked on X. Some of the more high-profile other victims include the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, OpenAI, and Donald Trump Jr. The hacking of Elmo’s account highlights ongoing vulnerabilities within the social media platform, particularly since Musk’s takeover, which has faced criticism regarding its handling of user safety and security.
In a rare case, Musk’s AI company, xAI, apologized last week. This follows on the heels of their Grok chatbot producing antisemitic memes and even shockingly, professing support for Adolf Hitler. This episode has laid the groundwork for an intense public debate over the ethical uses of AI. It further encroaches on the accountability of big tech to proactively police their products.
Notably, Elon Musk himself has faced scrutiny for past behavior, including performing a Nazi salute at Trump’s inauguration. Even more than making headlines, such actions have triggered movements like #deleteUber and greater scrutiny of what this new leadership means for America’s most influential tech companies.
