To Elon Musk, it was just a stupid joke. But to the US Secret Service, reeling after two assassination attempts against former president Donald Trump, his post, asking why no one is targeting the Democratic tickets, wasn’t funny at all.
Right after a suspect was arrested at Trump’s golf club in West Palm Beach and charged with alleged attempts on the former president’s life, Musk took to his platform X to observe: “And no one is even trying to assassinate Biden/Kamala.”
The billionaire’s post was viewed by tens of millions of X users but Musk eventually deleted it before saying it was a joke and not a statement intended to incite violence – as his critics have claimed.
Turns out that jokes are WAY less funny if people don’t know the context and the delivery is plain text
undefined Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 16, 2024
The White House had already criticized Musk’s post unofficially, calling it irresponsible rhetoric, and the US Secret Service, a federal agency, told the BBC they were familiar with the incident.
Now, it would seem that Musk has taken a step too far. According to Bloomberg News, the Secret Service has launched a probe into the X post from Musk. There’s no official confirmation but a representative of the agency told Axios: “The Secret Service investigates all threats related to our protectees.”
Threatening the US president or vice president is a felony that could result in up to five years in prison, even though the mere fact of the investigation doesn’t yet mean that Musk will be disciplined.
Musk has endorsed Trump, who is running for president, right after the July shooting at a campaign rally when a bullet grazed his ear. Trump has mentioned he’d consider appointing Musk to a cabinet or advisory role.
On X, Musk regularly behaves like a manchild, trolling liberals and occasionally reposting false statements about Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, including an AI deepfake using a manipulated version of her voice.
It just so happens that California governor Gavin Newsom has just signed some of America’s toughest laws yet regulating AI, cracking down on deepfakes that could deceive voters about upcoming elections.
Under the law AB 2839, social media users who post or repost AI deepfakes could face legal trouble. Newsom himself posted on X: “You can no longer knowingly distribute an ad or other election communications that contain materially deceptive content – including deepfakes.”
However, the law – which is already in effect – is controversial to some. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) says that AB 2839 threatens satire, parody, and other First Amendment-protected speech.
“AB 2839 bans sharing 'deceptive' digitally modified content about candidates for office for any purpose. That means sharing such content even to criticize it or point out it’s fake could violate the law,” said FIRE director of public advocacy Aaron Terr.
“The law also requires satire and parody to be labeled, like requiring a comedian to preface every joke with an announcement he’s making a joke. That’s not funny – it’s scary.”
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