Investigation: X amplifies right-wing and extreme political content in the UK, as Elon Musk endorses fringe right-wing politicians and encourages nationalism
The findings extend a UK story in which Musk's posts and political interventions had already raised concerns about strain on UK-US relations. They also sharpen the earlier conflict between X's free-speech posture and Labour's stated push against online hate speech on the platform.
Related coverage had suggested Musk's UK focus was shaped by activity on X itself rather than merely external political engagement. This investigation adds evidence that the platform's distribution dynamics may be part of that feedback loop.
First-order effects
UK X users are more likely to encounter right-wing and extreme political material through the service's amplification, while Musk's endorsements can give fringe political figures a larger platform.
X and Musk face more immediate scrutiny over whether the platform's recommendation and moderation choices are affecting political discourse in the UK.
Second-order effects
The findings increase pressure on UK policymakers to test whether existing online-safety expectations adequately address algorithmic amplification, not just individual posts.
Political groups and campaigners may treat X as a more consequential route to attention, intensifying the contest over platform governance and the credibility of information circulating there.
Third-order effects
If repeated across investigations, owner-led political participation and recommendation systems could become inseparable questions for platform oversight: regulators would need to assess distribution power alongside content rules.
The case points to a broader risk of self-reinforcing political ecosystems, in which highly engaged accounts shape both a platform owner's inputs and the audience's subsequent exposure; the scale and persistence of that effect remain to be established.
The trend: Social platforms are becoming more directly contested political infrastructure as recommendation systems, influential owners, and nationalist movements increasingly reinforce one another.
There's a link between the billionaire class spending millions to stop socialist, @ZohranKMamdani & their social media platforms promoting the far-right. They see our democracy & socialism as the biggest threat to their power/wealth & ability to keep on exploiting us all. [image]
@streettough
Razor Marone on x
My ‘For You’ tab has is basically now a sea of right wing content. Racism, ableism, homophobia on tap. All being posted by people/accounts that I don't follow and have never interacted with. The odd post from someone I do follow and have interacted with occasionally slips through
@supertanskiii
@supertanskiii on x
I feel vindicated. Been shouting this into the void for ages, whilst seeing the most heinous shit imaginable and being relentlessly targeted by far right bot farms. This app is nothing like it used to be. As I said, it's just a radicalisation vehicle now. https://news.sky.com/...
@peterstefanovi2
Peter Stefanovic on x
“The X algorithm prioritises sending new users right-wing leaning content”, a Sky News Data and Forensics investigation reveals https://news.sky.com/...
@allrightidiots
@allrightidiots on x
[video]
@globalaffairs
@globalaffairs on x
Tommy Robinson was acquitted of all charges against him under the UK Terrorism Act. X is proud to have funded his successful legal defense. Robinson was detained and ordered by officers to turn over all information on his cellphone, including journalistic sources, and was
@jonburkeuk
@jonburkeuk on x
If you're wondering why you now see so many hateful, far-right accounts with lots of followers accumulated since 2022 constantly attacking the U.K, it's not that the right have better arguments, it's that X's crypto-fascist owner has gamed it for them. https://news.sky.com/...
@chrislawsnp
Chris Law MP on x
I'm just about at the end of my patience of X It's neither neutral or it's Grok app factual. It's largely a tool for far right opinions. What a sad end to the intelligent world that Twitter once inhabited
@greenpeteru
Peter Underwood on x
X doesn't just promote the far-right, it also tries to silence the alternative - this is a clear case of interfering in free speech and democracy I know my posts are being hidden (a shadow ban) and my account was suspended during last year's general election for no reason
@skynews
@skynews on x
“The X algorithm prioritises sending new users right-wing leaning content”, a Sky News Data and Forensics investigation reveals. In this report, Sky's @Chesh explains how Elon Musk's X is boosting the British right. 🔗 https://news.sky.com/... [video]
@elonmusk
Elon Musk on x
Civil war in Britain is inevitable. Just a question of when.
@alonso_gd
Alonso Gurmendi on x
Honestly, Twitter has become a national security liability for most states. It seeks to radicalise communities with a history of violence and terror attacks. It should be treated as such
@narindertweets
Narinder Kaur on x
Knew it! I said this weeks ago- my algorithm has been pushed down and even a shadow ban at times. A platform without balance is just pure radicalisation of the hard right.
@elonmusk
Elon Musk on x
@Neccccy Civil war already began quietly several years ago, but only the other side was fighting
@jonathancohn
Jonathan Cohn on bluesky
Elon Musk did not buy Twitter for the sake of a direct profit. He bought it so that he could control public narratives and rig systems in his favor. news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
@ottoenglish
Otto English on bluesky
X is designed to radicalise people. — The algorithm promotes Elon Musk's agenda to promote racists and people who want violence bought - specifically - to the streets of Britain. — Members of Parliament, major institutions and the media should not be there. — news.sky.com/s…
@pickardje
Jim Pickard on bluesky
must-read analysis of how Musk's twitter is drenching new users with right-wing propaganda — news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
@mrjamesob
James O'Brien on bluesky
A magnificent piece of work. Comprehesive, revelatory & shocking. Journalism this good is always rare & precious but never moreso than at times like this. Latter day Lord Haw Haws being plumped, preened & delivered to your doorstep in plain sight by a Nazi-saluting goon — ne…
@felicityhannah
Felicity Hannah on bluesky
A fantastic piece of reporting, brilliantly illustrated data, thorough, neutral analysis, transparent data collection... and frightening conclusions. Well done @skynewsrss.bsky.social for putting in long miles on this one
@drjennings
Will Jennings on bluesky
This is really excellent data journalism... Elon Musk has declared war on the British government, it just doesn't realise it.
@iandunt
Ian Dunt on bluesky
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design. — news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
r/ukpolitics
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HOW ELON MUSK IS BOOSTING THE BRITISH RIGHT
r/AskBrits
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Bond villain meets Benny Hill, does it really matter if Elon / X is pushing a right wing narrative?
r/uknews
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HOW ELON MUSK IS BOOSTING THE BRITISH RIGHT
r/EnoughMuskSpam
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How the world's richest man is boosting the British right | UK News