The Rampant Spread of Hurricane Disinformation Is a Preview of the Lies We Will See as the Nation Votes in November

WASHINGTON — Earlier this month, as people across Florida were bracing for yet another hurricane, Elon Musk took to his platform to spread more lies about ongoing federal emergency-response efforts. 

In a post that tens of millions have viewed, Musk falsely claimed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency was “actively blocking” aid shipments to those in desperate need of relief from Hurricane Helene. He then claimed without a shred of evidence that FEMA had “used up its budget ferrying [immigrants] into the country instead of saving American lives.” 

In the two years since Musk took over Twitter (now “X”), he’s decimated the teams that were responsible for curbing the spread of disinformation. It was a poor decision that could be costing us lives as FEMA rushes in to try to save Floridians caught in the path of last night’s storm.

In many ways, the disinformation about Hurricanes Helene and Milton is a dry run for the disinformation we will see as the nation votes on Nov. 5, and as those votes are counted. The spread of storm-related lies is an early test of online platforms’ readiness and willingness to stem the expected deluge of disinformation about the voting process and the government workers and volunteers responsible for managing it. Musk has already taken to X to spread the next “Big Lie”: the false claim that hundreds of thousands of immigrants are being bussed into battleground states to tilt the vote toward Democrats.

Earlier this year, Free Press led a coalition of more than 200 groups calling on tech platforms to make six distinct interventions to keep online platforms safe during an election year. In September, as part of Free Press’ Democracy Is … initiative, leading media-democracy groups called on media companies and technology platforms to prioritize truth over sensationalism, accountability over profits and democracy over division. The effort offers concrete steps media companies and technology platforms must take to address the kinds of disinformation that Musk routinely shares with his more than 200 million followers. 

Free Press Senior Counsel and Director of Digital Justice and Civil Rights Nora Benavidez said: 

“It’s deeply disheartening to see powerful people incite fear and uncertainty among the millions of people suffering in the aftermath of these devastating storms. But even more worrisome is the social-media platforms’ refusal to curb the rampant spread of these lies. The torrent of unchecked lies is drowning out even FEMA’s efforts to correct the record. 

“At some level Musk must know that by amplifying such falsehoods he’s further dividing the American public in advance of November's vote. Not only do these lies undermine trust in government-relief efforts and put vulnerable communities at risk, they also discourage people from participating in our democracy. 

“Both traditional and new media are obligated to safeguard democracy for all. It’s their duty to provide the accurate information people need to determine the future course of our country. As we dig out from the latest storms and prepare for November’s election, these companies must meet this moment by debunking the lies and protecting the vote.”