Elon Musk Just Handed China and Russia a Huge Boost – Newsweek
Twitter CEO Elon Musk has sparked concern the social media platform could see an increase in misinformation and propaganda after the company stopped tagging some accounts as "government-funded" media or China or Russia "state-affiliated" media.
Last November, after acquiring Twitter, Musk tweeted that Twitter needed to become "by far the most accurate source of information about the world".
The platform soon introduced context tabs for some tweets. These tabs would give a deeper explanation of a topic related to the tweet and in some cases identify false information.
One feature that was introduced that received both condemnation and praise was the Twitter information tags on profiles. This would identify profiles that were government-funded, or considered state-affiliated so Twitter users understood the wider context of the views they expressed.
According to a Reuters report, Twitter has, in part, dropped this feature. Some profiles that previously had "government-funded", "China state-affiliated" or "Russia state-affiliated" have had the labels removed.
Social Media Lab, a research laboratory at the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University in Canada, referred to a move by Twitter this month to label public broadcaster Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as "69% government funded media".
"After making a show of labeling @cbc as '69% government-funded media,' the label is now gone. But what's more troubling is the fact that, overnight, Twitter has also quietly deleted labels from many state-run propaganda outlets of authoritarian regimes such as RT, Sputnik & CCCTV," it said on Twitter.
Twitter user @MrSeanHaines shared screenshots of multiple Twitter profiles that previously had China state-affiliated media tags and highlighted his concerns.
He wrote sarcastically: "I'm sure none will go back to hiding their employers, pretending to be humble journalists/influencers, right. Right?
The user, describing themselves on Twitter as being "ex-China state media", also shared comments CGTN journalist Li Jingjing made about being considered China-state affiliated media.
In one of her previous tweets: Jingjing said: "I also wear [China state-affiliated media] as a badge of honor.
"Because, despite the shadowban this tag brings, people who are tired of US mainstream media propaganda want to come to my page even more to hear a Chinese perspective."
A follow-up tweet appeared to show Jingjing celebrating the label being removed, however.
MrSeanHaines showed other profiles that had previously had China state-affiliation requesting Musk remove the feature or celebrating when it was removed.
Freelance journalist Oliya Scootercaster also highlighted that profiles that previously were aligned with Russian-state media have had their tag removed.
Sharing images of the tags removed, she captioned the pictures: "TASS and RT, a Russia government-run 'news' channels had their 'state-affiliated' and 'government-funded' labels removed on Twitter. NPR and BBC newly slapped-on labels are no longer present either."
Newsweek has contacted Twitter via email for comment.
Last week, during a BBC interview, Musk said Twitter was trying to be as accurate as possible but was looking into amending the label, following complaints from some individuals and companies.
Speaking specifically about the BBC being deemed "government-funded,"a label the broadcaster objected tohe said: "Our goal is simply to be as truthful and accurate as possible. We're adjusting the label to be 'publicly funded', which I think is perhaps not too objectionable.
James Rubin, a coordinator for the Global Engagement Center, a state department body set up to identify and counter foreign propaganda and disinformation, has previously raised his concerns about Chinese and Russian propaganda spreading.
Speaking during a European tour in late February, according to a Guardian report, he said: "The well has been poisoned by Chinese and Russian disinformationit's pernicious.
"We as a nation and the West have been slow to respond and it is a fair judgment that we are facing a very, very large challenge.
"In the communication space, the alignment between China and Russia is near complete."
He also commented on how this propaganda push is seen elsewhere in the world.
He said: "For some African countries, for some Asian countries, Ukraine is a war far away. They believe that they don't get enough attention from the West, period, all of them. That makes some of them look at this war through that lens."
Follow this link:
Elon Musk Just Handed China and Russia a Huge Boost - Newsweek
- Elon Musk asks judge to recuse herself in Tesla shareholder case, saying she hearted post about him losing a lawsuit - Business Insider - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- The White House snubs Elon Musk's offer to cover TSA salaries as airport miseries hit record levels - Fortune - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Elon Musk demands judge's recusal over 'support' of LinkedIn post that mocked him after $2B verdict - New York Post - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Giga Texas transformed the Austin landscape. Elon Musk thinks Terafab could be about 10x the size. - Sherwood News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Tesla is coming out with something cooler than a minivan, says Elon Musk - Electrek - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Judge Approves Testimony that Microsoft Could Owe Elon Musk $25 Billion - The Information - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ravens back out of plan to receive free tunnel from Elon Musk-led venture - WBAL-TV - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ravens withdraw proposal to bring Elon Musk-backed underground tunnel to Baltimore - Baltimore Sun - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's Terafab semiconductor project could cost $5 trillion, Bernstein claims herculean effort would cost more than 70% of the total yearly US... - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Youll Never Believe This but Elon Musk Doesnt Get to Pay TSA Workers Salaries - Gizmodo - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Ukraine Is Suddenly on the Offensive, With Help From Elon Musk - WSJ - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk offer to cover TSA worker pay, CBS News reports - Reuters - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- What is Loop? More on Elon Musk's proposed underground transportation project for New Orleans - WDSU - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's Terafab is here: What it is, and why it's important for Tesla and SpaceX - Yahoo Finance - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House turns down Elon Musk's offer to cover TSA pay during partial government shutdown - Business Insider - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Elon Musk wanted to dig under Baltimore - The Ravens aren't interested - WMAR 2 News Baltimore - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- SUN: Ravens withdraw proposal to bring Elon Musk-backed underground tunnel to Baltimore - WBFF - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Trump Rejects Another Offer To Pay TSA Agents, This Time From Elon Musk Himself - Jalopnik - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's TSA offer that Donald Trump loved has been rejected due to ... - The Times of India - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Left Out of Trumps Tech Bro Council - The Daily Beast - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Gov. Gavin Newsom trashes Elon Musk as one of the great disappointments - New York Post - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Lawyers for Elon Musk want a judge removed from all cases related to Tesla CEO and his companies because - The Times of India - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during partial government shutdown - 13newsnow.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during partial government shutdown - WFAA - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during partial government shutdown - KVUE - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during partial government shutdown - wfmynews2.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during partial government shutdown - fox43.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during partial government shutdown - WCNC - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- Can Elon Musk pay TSA agents directly during the government shutdown? - Northeastern Global News - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- White House rejects Elon Musk's offer to pay TSA workers during partial government shutdown - cbs8.com - March 26th, 2026 [March 26th, 2026]
- This is the way: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffetts famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt - Fortune - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- We get the living daylights taxed out of us: How billionaires like Elon Musk avoid taxes on their massive wealth - AOL.com - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Lawsuit Accusing Elon Musk of Tanking Twitter Share Price Goes to Jury - KQED - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Peter Thiel says that the initiative under which Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk have pledged to give away more than 90% of their wealth is... - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- The head of NASA, members of Congress, and Elon Musk want to make Pluto a planet again. Will Trump do it? - Fast Company - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- This is the way: Elon Musk endorses Warren Buffetts famed 5-minute plan to fix the national debt - Yahoo Finance - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Wins Ruling $134 Billion Fraud Trial Against OpenAI, But Will He Win The Trial? - Yahoo Finance - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Why the Latest Step in Elon Musk's Transformation of Tesla Could Be a 'Herculean Task' - Yahoo Finance - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Claims the New Tesla Roadster Will "Probably" Be Unveiled in April 2026 - hypebeast.com - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- A philanthropy CEO says Elon Musk is rightgiving billions away is harder than it looks - Fortune - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- U: The Mind Company Launches Non-Invasive Alternative to Elon Musk's Neuralink Device That Requires Surgery - extratv.com - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Wins Ruling $134 Billion Fraud Trial Against OpenAI, But Will He Win The Trial? - AOL.com - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Vows to Donate Any OpenAI Legal Victory Proceeds to Charity. The Internet Labels Him the Man of the People - Yahoo Finance - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Elon Musk, US SEC in Talks to Settle Suit Over 2022 Twitter Disclosures - US News Money - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Posts Nostalgia for the OpenAI He Says Was Betrayed. His Own Emails Tell a Different Story. - FinTech Weekly - March 18th, 2026 [March 18th, 2026]
- Will Elon Musk Unveiled The Tesla Experiment Sell to the U.S.? Its Producer Is Still Working on It - The Hollywood Reporter - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- What was Doge? How Elon Musk tried to gamify government - The Guardian - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Says Economy Will Grow 10 Times Bigger In Just 10 Years Unless 'World War III Or Something' Puts a Kink in Those Plans - Yahoo Finance - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Indian-Origin Techie Joins xAI To Build "Best Coding AI", Elon Musk Reacts - NDTV - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- What OpenAI Could Owe Elon Musk; An xAI Hiring Spree - The Information - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Medical student who secretly filmed 150 Melbourne women in toilets spared conviction, Elon Musk says judge should be deported - The Times of India - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's Data Centers Keep Getting Louder And Residents Are Fed Up - SlashGear - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's xAI granted power plant permit despite backlash from nearby residents: 'Families will be forced to live with this' - Yahoo - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Will Elon Musk Unveiled The Tesla Experiment Sell to the U.S.? Its Producer Is Still Working on It - Yahoo - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- "Failing to Pass SAVE Is an Act of High Treason Against the People of America": Elon Musk Ignites Fierce Debate Over Senate Gridlock - Yahoo... - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Elon Musk admits xAi is 'being rebuilt' after founding team resign - so what went wrong? - Indy100 - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Says Hes Epically Screwed Up at xAI, Is Rebuilding From the Foundations - Futurism - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Says SpaceX Will Beat 'Everyone Else Combined' In AI, Warns Non-AI Firms Risk Extinction - Benzinga - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Sued Over Grok Creating Fake Porn of Teenagers - Yahoo - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- When Elon Musk Talks, Nasdaq and the S&P 500 Must Listen - The Motley Fool - March 17th, 2026 [March 17th, 2026]
- People in This Mississippi City Faced Off With Elon Musk. They Lost. - The New York Times - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- William Shatner says he turned a $42 money transfer from Elon Musk into nearly $200,000 for his charity - Business Insider - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Should This Texas Beach Close When Elon Musk Wants It To? - Texas Monthly - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk just made things uncomfortable for Paypal and Cash App - thestreet.com - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk says Tesla expects to increase its human workforce as AI and robotics boost productivity - Yahoo Finance - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Maye Musk describes her son Elon's living space: 'The shower only has one towel' - Business Insider - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- 'Proceed with caution': Elon Musk offers warning after Amazon reportedly had mandatory meeting to address 'high blast radius' and AI-related incidents... - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk says Tesla expects to increase its human workforce as AI and robotics boost productivity - Business Insider - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk on becoming world's first trillionaire: Money is not sitting in my bank account, it is small .. - The Times of India - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's Mom Says Billionaire Son Has One Towel, 'No Food In The Fridge' And She Sleeps In The Garage 'Okay With Me' - Yahoo - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Asked If Anyone Actually Bought Something From An Ad On X. The Responses Prompted A Simple 'Sigh' From Him - Yahoo Finance - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Is Close to Becoming the Worlds First Trillionaire as His Net Worth Hits $839 Billion - TipRanks - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk says Tesla expects to increase its human workforce as AI and robotics boost productivity - AOL.com - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's SpaceX Will Announce Its IPO Before This Date? Here's What The Prediction Market Says - Yahoo Finance - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Exodus of cofounders from Elon Musk's AI startup continues, only ... - The Times of India - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Proceed with caution: Elon Musk offers warning after Amazon reportedly held mandatory meeting to address high blast radius AI-related incident - MSN - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Chimes in on Women Preferring Timothe Chalamet Over Henry Cavill - Complex - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk Says Optimus 3 Will Be The 'Most Advanced' Robot In The World: 'Nothing's Even Close' - Benzinga - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- William Shatner says he turned a $42 money transfer from Elon Musk into nearly $200,000 for his charity - Yahoo - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]
- Elon Musk's Viral Interview: Global GDP to Increase Tenfold in 10 Years Without WWIII, Humanity to Be Marginalized by AI - 36 Kr - March 13th, 2026 [March 13th, 2026]