An ointment for Musk

by | Jan 12, 2025 | Editorial and Analysis

BREAKING News

Kyriakos Velopoulos, leader of the far-right, Christian nationalist and pro-Russian Greek Solution party, has asked the Greek parliamentary speaker to invite tech billionaire Elon Musk to speak in Parliament because, as he said, “he leads the global effort for freedom of speech, expression and the free dissemination of ideas.”

This is not the first time that unhinged talk has been deliberately equated with freedom. Because how can one describe what Musk, one of the most powerful people in the world, a close friend and associate of President-elect Donald Trump, says and does? From the moment he bought the social media platform Twitter and renamed it X, one of the first things he did was to abolish fact checking and reinstate all user accounts that promoted fascist content or circulated extreme, conspiratorial positions.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently imitated Musk by also eliminating fact checking on Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp. Millions of users exposed to chaotic misinformation interact without any – even the slightest – obstacle. The jungle of the internet was obviously not restrained by “data checks,” but the only brake that existed has now been removed. So the speed of dissemination of information has increased uncontrollably, with the protagonists themselves, Musk and Zuckerberg, maintaining a hegemonic role. Gradually tying themselves to Trump’s chariot, either out of ideological agreement or out of fear of reprisals, they reinforce the dangerous delirium in every direction and without resistance. They turn indiscriminately against countries, people, perceptions, attacking with a warlike fervor, shouting insults and threats.

The extreme right-wing audience is falling over itself to curry favor with the likes of Trump and Musk. Which of its ideological representatives in Greece will first gain their favor and attention? Kyriakos Velopoulos or Afroditi Latinopoulou, leader of far-right, nationalist Voice of Reason? And how subtly will this unhinged talk begin to fade and resemble freedom of speech? The danger is not simply visible. Political expediencies can also present these dangerous comments as having miraculous abilities, like the “miracle” wax ointments sold by Velopoulos during his stint in telemarketing.

Professor Konstantinos Tsoukalas said it well in his eulogy for late premier Costas Simitis – that with him we bid goodbye to “a world that no longer exists.” Except that this new world is not at all vague. It is as clear as a weapon, with the safety off.

 

 

https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/1258295/an-ointment-for-musk/

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Dynamis Media Group llc, NeaProini.gr or NeaProini.us. Any content provided by our authors and/or contributors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual or anyone or anything.

Breaking News