Elon Musk has raised concerns due to the harm he has caused, especially with the increase of misinformation on online platforms. Notably, his presence on X, previously known as Twitter, stands out. Although he was admitted to the Royal Society for his impact on technology and space exploration in 2018, Musk has responded with disdain to the calls for his expulsion from the institution.
In a message shared on X, Musk stated that "only fools, cowards, and insecure individuals care about awards and memberships," emphasizing that "history is the true judge." The Royal Society, founded in 1660, has over 1,800 members, including 85 Nobel Prize winners, although it remains unclear whether Musk will continue as a member after the recent meeting of the institution.
More than three thousand scientists, including several Nobel laureates, have requested Elon Musk's expulsion from the Royal Society. They accuse Musk of constantly promoting unfounded conspiracy theories that would violate the ethical code of conduct of the British institution. Stephen Curry, the author of the letter leading the request, has pointed him out as "one of the most active spreaders of false news," highlighting that the dissemination of misinformation on issues such as vaccines, Covid-19, and heart problems has negatively impacted scientific institutions.
Geoffrey Hinton, Nobel Prize winner in Physics in 2024 and considered one of the fathers of artificial intelligence, has also joined the request for Elon Musk's expulsion. The concern lies in the negative impact that the entrepreneur's actions could be having on the scientific community and society as a whole.
