In the wake of Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter and the subsequent renaming of the platform to X, concerns have emerged regarding the censorship of critical voices and the amplification of far-right extremists. Despite claims of being a "free speech absolutist," Musk's actions have raised concerns about an impending information void before the consequential United States Presidential election.

According to recent reports from Pew Research, 65 percent of X's users rely on the platform for news content. However, users like Matt J, who runs the left-leaning account "Blue Resistors In Red States," have reported receiving content from far-right provocateurs such as Laura Loomer on their "For You" pages daily. Matt J expressed his frustration, stating, "I'm getting pushed information from the fringes of right-wing people who I don't even follow."

Similarly, progressive user Maryanne Chisholm faces continuous exposure to content from far-right elected officials like Marjorie Taylor Greene, despite having blocked them. Chisholm shared her experience with Al Jazeera, saying, "I go on every day and people I've blocked pop back up as people I'm following."

Musk's interview with former President Donald Trump on Monday further highlights his unfiltered approach to spreading messages without fact-checking mechanisms. Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, referred to the interview as "unfiltered," reflecting the platform's lack of scrutiny towards Trump's statements.

While liberal voices face restrictions on X, right-wing figures like Trump and his allies are allowed unrestricted expression. Musk's growing hostility towards Vice President Kamala Harris is evident in his recent statements, including labeling her as a communist. Harris's campaign page, KamalaHQ, was also inaccessible for users across the platform. The issue prompted New York Representative Jerry Nadler to call for an investigation into the matter.

Musk's history of suppressing content from users with opposing views extends beyond journalists. Former CNN anchor Don Lemon recently filed a lawsuit against Musk for allegedly cancelling a deal for a show on the platform after raising concerns about hate speech. Additionally, Musk pressured the head of trust and safety to suspend left-wing activist Chad Loder.

The consolidation of power within X has raised concerns about the lack of checks and balances on Musk's increasingly fringe political stances. Recent reporting from Wired highlights the dissolution of the Trust and Safety Council, which previously advised the company on tackling issues like hate speech. The account "White Dudes for Harris" also faced suspension and labeling as spam after raising funds for Kamala Harris's campaign.

Mike Nellis, co-creator of the account, expressed concerns about censorship efforts undermining the promotion of left-leaning causes. He stated, "We're reaching real people on this platform. I think it's wrong of Elon Musk to put his thumb on the scale for his own politics this way." Matt J also reported a decrease in views on his posts promoting liberal issues.

The impact of censorship extends beyond political discourse. Users like Nellis are concerned about the potential limitations on fundraising opportunities for liberal causes. He stated, "If our account is suspended or limited at a time when we're raising millions of dollars for Kamala Harris and our links come up dead, that limits our fundraising. It limits our potential."

Musk's actions have also drawn criticism off the platform. America PAC, a political action committee run by Musk, is currently under investigation for falsely registering voters in swing states. Additionally, elected officials in Michigan and North Carolina have lost their blue checkmarks on X, raising questions about potential political bias.

Musk's personal stance on trans issues has also led to the removal of transgender protections in X's hate speech policy. The platform has limited visibility on tweets containing certain words related to transgender individuals. This move reflects Musk's use of openly hostile language towards the trans community.

Despite Musk's accusations that previous Twitter leadership favored liberal causes and censored conservative voices, academic studies have found no evidence of systematic censorship against conservatives. The Twitter Files, which were released in 2022 in collaboration with right-leaning journalists, have also been criticized for using cherry-picked data to support Musk's claims.

As the United States Presidential election approaches, concerns persist about the potential impact of censorship on the information landscape. With Musk's history of suppressing opposing views and endorsing Donald Trump, the future of free speech on the platform remains uncertain.