Ethereum co-founder slams Musk for 'coordinated hate sessions'

Elon Musk, recognized globally as the world's richest man, is not only a prominent figure in technology but also known for his outspoken political views. Despite a past acrimonious departure from the Donald Trump administration, he continues to engage in contemporary political discussions.

However, Musk's persistent criticism of the European Union (EU) and the operational direction of X under his ownership have drawn critique from Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum.

EU Imposes Fine on Elon Musk's X Platform

On December 5, the European Commission levied a $140 million fine against Musk's platform, X, alleging violations of the Digital Services Act. The commission cited X's alleged failure to adequately control hate speech and misinformation.

Following this directive, Musk voiced strong opposition to the EU's actions, echoing sentiments from other online commentators.

Musk reposted a statement from a conservative account on X, which read, "Elon Musk is not the enemy of Europe. The European Union is the enemy of Europe."

Musk also concurred with a post asserting that the EU is not representative of Europe, describing the 27-member bloc as merely "a bureaucracy setup by the socialists and communists."

Yup

The tech magnate further stated, "The European Union is not DEMOcracy – rule of the people – but rather BUREAUcracy – rule of the unelected bureaucrat!"

He also attributed the "murder of Europe" to EU commissars and expressed disapproval of a pro-immigrant policy.

The EU commissars are responsible for the murder of Europe

Musk took the opportunity to highlight claims that X is experiencing significant growth in Europe, suggesting this is occurring despite the EU's alleged attempts to censor the social media platform.

lol

He noted, "𝕏 is seeing record-breaking downloads in many countries in Europe."

Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, subsequently rebranding it to X in July 2023. He has consistently stated his intention to transform the social media platform into a sanctuary for free speech and to eliminate perceived political bias.

Ethereum Co-Founder Critiques Critics of Europe

Vitalik Buterin, a Canadian computer programmer of Russian heritage, is widely recognized for his role in co-founding Ethereum.

The prominent figure in the blockchain industry commented that the recent criticisms directed at Europe by individuals he considers "interesting and sophisticated" have become "unhinged."

He acknowledged that Europe faces challenges, including attempts at chat control, an overly bureaucratic and unsupportive environment for entrepreneurship, and perceived double standards in its approach to conflicts in places like Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.

However, Buterin strongly criticized those who employ "apocalyptic" rhetoric and evoke "imagery of barbarians pillaging Rome" when discussing Europe's condition.

"I don't believe the line that 'the target is not Europe, it's the EU': I've seen many instances of London specifically being targeted in the hate session, so no, much of it is an attack on Europe)," he added.

He further stated that the descriptions of Europe by its detractors do not align with his personal experiences, having spent two months there annually for the past decade.

Buterin Addresses Musk Directly

Buterin directly addressed Musk, criticizing him for initially positioning X as a "global totem pole" for free speech, only to subsequently transform it into a "death star laser for coordinated hate sessions."

He argued that this shift is detrimental to the broader cause of free speech.

"I'm seriously worried that huge backlashes against values I hold dear are coming in a few years' time."

@elonmusk I think you should consider that making X a global totem pole for Free Speech, and then turning it into a death star laser for coordinated hate sessions, is actually harmful for the cause of free speech. I'm seriously worried that huge backlashes against values I hold…

When questioned by a user about whether Musk should censor speech he dislikes, the Ethereum co-founder contended that Musk is actively manipulating algorithms to promote or demote content based on arbitrary criteria.

"As long as that power lever exists, I'd prefer it be used (without increasing its scope) to boost niceness instead of boosting ragebait."

In response to Buterin's remarks, an X user emphasized the need for a "fair, privacy driven, and decentralised" social media platform.