Meeting Elon Musk, Israeli PM Netanyahu Urges Balance of Freedom of Opinion by Combating Hate Speech in X

Elon Musk with PM Netanyahu. (Twitter/@netanyahu)

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Elon Musk to maintain a balance between protecting freedom of expression and fighting hate speech at a meeting Monday, following the controversy over antisemitic content on Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Earlier this month, Musk attacked the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), accusing the non-profit organization working to fight antisemitism of causing a 60 percent drop in X's advertising revenue in Uncle Sam's country, without providing evidence.

Musk previously joined the conversation on

"I hope you find within the limits of the First Amendment the ability to not only stop antisemitism, but also collective hatred against a nation," said PM Netanyahu at a meeting at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California, as reported by Reuters 19 September.

"I know you are committed to that, but I encourage and urge you to find a balance," continued PM Netanyahu.

Musk himself responded by saying he opposes antisemitism and opposes anything that "promotes hatred and conflict," repeating his previous statement that X would not promote hate speech.

Musk said X should be a platform for people to upload different points of view. However, the company will limit the distribution of certain posts that may violate its policies, calling its approach "free speech, not outreach."

Additionally, Musk and PM Netanyahu also discussed how to harness the benefits of rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), while limiting the risks to society, a concern that Musk and others in the technology industry have raised in recent months.

"We stand today at a critical juncture for all humanity, where we must choose between blessing and curse," said PM Netanyahu, adding that AI could advance medicine, but also pose risks such as disrupting democracy.

It is known that Israel is considered a world leader in the field of AI, thanks to a burgeoning computing and robotics industry that utilizes talent developed in its technologically advanced conscript military.

פגישה מצוינת עם אילון מאסק. דיברנו על הדרכים לקדם את תחום הבינה המלאכותית בישראל ובעולם - תחום מרכזי שחשוב כל כך לעתיד המדינה שלנו.

(צילום: אבי אוחיון, לע״מ) pic.twitter.com/t0EEkyzN5Y

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) September 18, 2023