An investigation by Sky News shows how X, owned by Elon Musk, is favoring right-wing content, regardless of users’ political orientation. The study, carried out in the United Kingdom, analyzed around 90 thousand publications and concluded that 62% of the content displayed to users was conservative in content, even for accounts created with neutral or left-wing profiles.
“Eliminating the woke virus” and creating a “freedom of expression” platform were Elon Musk’s promises in 2022, when he bought Twitter. The changes started early, visually the brand’s blue gave way to black and the bird became an X.
The social network eliminated moderation teams and changed algorithms, which by the end of 2025 will be completely based on artificial intelligence. But the data suggests that this “freedom” has a bias.
Posts from Musk-backed politicians such as Rupert Lowe and Ben Habib received disproportionate visibility. Lowe, for example, has seen his content multiply in reach but rejects any conspiracy.
“There is no conspiracy. The algorithm rewards what is popular.”
On the other hand, progressive voices denounce a loss of reach. This is the case of Samirah Ali, founder of a movement against racism.
“In the past, we did much better on Twitter, but now it’s gone downhill. What goes viral is always from the far right.”
Digital influence has already translated into concrete actions. In September 2025, 150,000 people marched in London in the Unite the Kingdom demonstration, led by Tommy Robinson, a central figure of the British far right.
Tommy Robinson’s Twitter account had been deactivated due to the content of the publications, but was reactivated by Musk, who participated virtually in the event, broadcast live on the social network. Bruce Daisley, former director of Twitter in Europe, says that we are facing a worrying scenario.
“If millions of people open the application and see a more adversarial agenda, this will have an impact on politics.”
The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, joins the criticism and calls for measures to stop Elon Musk’s influence on the political debate in the United Kingdom.
“It’s almost as if X seeks to divide us as a country, pushing us to extremes. This is deeply wrong.”
A spokesperson for the platform guarantees that the company “is committed to an open and impartial public conversation” and defends the transparency of the algorithm and tools to combat misinformation.
To what extent can a private social network shape a country’s politics? With Musk promising a “fully AI-generated” algorithm and no traditional moderation, the impact of technology on British democracy is far from neutral and promises to continue to generate debate.
