A deposition that Elon Musk’s legal team fought to keep private was made public on Monday. Musk underwent the deposition in March as part of a lawsuit alleging his involvement in spreading a conspiracy theory falsely linking 22-year-old Ben Brody to a neo-Nazi group.
Allegations and Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed by Brody last fall, accuses Musk of amplifying posts on his social media platform, X, that inaccurately associated Brody with a violent incident at a Pride event involving far-right groups. Musk’s social media activity allegedly led to Brody experiencing doxxing, harassment, and having to relocate for safety.
Release of Deposition
HuffPost was the first to report on the deposition’s transcript being released, despite efforts by Musk’s lawyer to keep it confidential. The judge overseeing the case denied the request to mark the deposition as “confidential.”
Key Quotes from the Deposition
Financial Impact on X
Musk acknowledged that his actions may have had a detrimental financial effect on X, the social media company he acquired in 2022. He admitted to prioritizing posts based on personal interest rather than financial gain, despite criticism and a decline in X’s value since his acquisition.
Alternate Social Media Accounts
Musk revealed the existence of a test account he briefly used on X in 2023 and hinted at another account named “baby smoke 9000.” While the purpose of the test account was for experimentation, Musk did not disclose further details about the other account’s usage.
Reliance on Community Notes
In his defense, Musk claimed to rely on X’s Community Notes feature for fact-checking. He stated that he trusted users to correct inaccuracies through this feature and did not independently verify information before sharing it on X.
Views on Lawsuits and Social Media Impact
Musk expressed skepticism about the impact of social media attacks on individuals’ lives, suggesting they rarely have a significant negative effect. He also criticized the role of lawyers in such lawsuits, implying financial motivations behind them.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s deposition offers insight into his approach to social media and its consequences. While he maintains a casual attitude towards its impact, the lawsuit underscores the potential repercussions of spreading misinformation online.
