Key takeaways:

• Elon Musk criticized Wikipedia's description of his gesture at Trump's inauguration, calling it biased.
• Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales defended the platform's commitment to factual accuracy amid Musk's claims of propaganda.
• The feud highlights the contrasting philosophies between Musk's X platform and Wikipedia's dedication to neutrality.
• Musk has called for the defunding of Wikipedia, echoing sentiments of misinformation and media bias.

The clash between Elon Musk and Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales has garnered significant attention following a controversial incident at Donald Trump's second inauguration. Amid growing scrutiny over Musk’s gesture, which has been interpreted by some as reminiscent of a Nazi salute, the billionaire has launched an assault on Wikipedia, labeling it an extension of “legacy media propaganda” due to its depiction of the event. Musk's call to defund the popular online encyclopedia sparked a heated debate about the platform's ideological bias.

Musk's critique arose after Wikipedia's entry mentioned, "In his speech during the second Trump inauguration, Musk twice extended his right arm towards the crowd in an upward angle. The gesture was compared to a Nazi salute or fascist salute." This description, which Musk vehemently denied carried any nefarious intention, was met with defensive remarks from Wales, who asserted that every aspect of the report was factual. "Is there anything you consider inaccurate in that description? It's true you did the gesture (twice) and that people did compare it to a Nazi salute," Wales pointed out in response to Musk.

This feud underscores a stark dichotomy between the operational ethos of Musk’s X platform and Wikipedia's unwavering commitment to neutrality. Musk has gained notoriety for relaxing content moderation policies on X, creating an environment rife with disinformation—an approach that places him at odds with Wikipedia's mission to provide balanced and peer-reviewed information. Wales noted that while Twitter, now X, has descended into a battleground of divisive rhetoric, Wikipedia strives to present information that reflects a diversity of perspectives, adhering to standards of reliability.

As Musk’s conflict with Wikimedia continues, Wales has suggested an alternative vision for the future of information sharing, stating in an interview, "we just plug away, trying to be neutral, trying to be clear." The integrity of Wikipedia, launched in 2001, is not simply a static opposition to X; it signifies a broader commitment to truth within a digital landscape dominated by powerful social media giants like Musk's.

Elon Musk's clashes with established media and platforms illustrate an ongoing struggle for control over narrative and fact in the era of information overload. His insistence that Wikipedia and traditional media be reformed into what he considers non-partisan echoes his broader ambition: to reshape the way knowledge is disseminated online. For Wales and Wikipedia, however, the commitment to ensure facts guide discourse will remain paramount, resisting attempts at commodification or privatization that Musk seems to advocate.

For further details, see more at Le Monde, India Times, South China Morning Post, and Newsweek.