In a series of recent events, Elon Musk's engagement on social media platform X has sparked debates about his potential influence on public discourse and political conversations. Last month, Musk publicly endorsed former President Donald Trump, and shortly after, he shared an edited video featuring Vice President Kamala Harris with artificial intelligence-generated voice manipulation. The video, posted on Musk's X account boasting 192 million followers, appeared to violate X policies, but Musk defended it as parody.

This controversy was followed by another incident involving the suspension of an account affiliated with a fundraising campaign titled "White Dudes for Kamala" which aimed to show support for Vice President Harris. The account was initially suspended by X for allegedly violating their rules against evading suspension. However, X later reinstated the account, causing concerns about Musk's potential use of X to influence political conversations.

The incidents have raised concerns among experts who question the ability of a single individual, like Musk, to wield considerable power in shaping public discourse. Paul Barrett, a professor at New York University Law School, emphasized the need to address the influence that an individual can have due to the structure of current communication platforms. Barrett stated, "It's an unsettling situation. It illustrates the power that can reside in the hands of a single individual because of the almost bizarre way our current communications architecture is structured."

However, some experts argue that critics lack evidence to prove Musk's undue intervention on X and downplay the platform's overall significance in the wider political conversation. Siva Vaidyanathan, a professor of media studies at the University of Virginia, acknowledged Musk's ownership of X but expressed skepticism about the extent of his influence, stating, "I actually don't think his ownership of Twitter or activities on Twitter make the slightest bit of difference."

X, which boasts nearly 250 million users, has yet to respond to requests for comment from both ABC News and Musk himself regarding these recent incidents. Notably, when Musk acquired X back in 2022, he vowed to relax content moderation and transform the platform into a "digital town square." This strategic move led to an increase in Musk's follower count, surpassing top users like former President Barack Obama and pop star Justin Bieber.

Critics point out instances where Musk has shared misinformation on X, including a false claim about the impact of mail-in ballots on election integrity in January. Hamed Qahri-Saremi, a professor of computer information systems at Colorado State University, expressed concerns about Musk spreading fake information, highlighting the irony of him being the owner of the platform responsible for content moderation.

Furthermore, scrutiny has been placed on X's content moderation policies, particularly after the platform implemented a system called Community Notes, which appends context to false or misleading posts. However, The New York Times reported inconsistencies within the system, allowing false posts to circulate without proper corrections.

Sam Woolley, a professor at the University of Texas School of Journalism, called attention to a potential contradiction in Musk's commitment to free speech after the temporary suspension of the "White Dudes for Harris" account. Woolley suggested that Musk's actions undermine his stated intentions regarding free speech on X.

Despite the criticism, some experts defend Musk, pointing out that there is no evidence of him using X to reward political allies or punish opponents intentionally. Jason Buckweitz, a professor of business at Columbia University, highlighted the lack of specific policies set by Musk to abuse his power on X, stating, "I haven't seen any evidence." However, Joshua Tucker, director of the Center for Social Media and Politics at New York University, emphasized the need for careful public policy considerations regarding the regulation of social media platforms.

As debates continue regarding Musk's dual role as both the owner and user of X, questions arise about the appropriate regulation and oversight of social media platforms. Tucker cited the recent bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting children's safety on social media as an example of the federal government's willingness to step in. He emphasized the importance of public policy in addressing concerns about the behavior of social media companies.

Overall, Elon Musk's activities on X have ignited discussions about his potential political influence and the need for greater scrutiny of social media platforms. Whether the public agrees or disagrees with his actions, the question of how to regulate and balance public discourse in the digital era remains a pressing issue.