Musk's 'Citizen Vigilante' Film Free on X Amidst Political Support

The film 'Citizen Vigilante', directed by Uwe Boll and featuring actor Armie Hammer, was made accessible for free on Elon Musk's social media platform X for a 48-hour period in late June. This decision brought the film, which depicts extreme violence including the killing of police officers, judges, a gang of rapists, a refugee family, and a civilian, to wider attention. Following the publicity, the movie briefly climbed the charts on streaming services such as Apple and Amazon.

The film's content, which includes a vigilante character targeting Muslim migrants and 'woke' government officials, has drawn criticism. Musk himself reposted a message describing vigilante murder as a 'moderate response' to crimes committed by immigrants. This action is seen as part of a broader pattern of Musk's engagement with extreme ideas and activists, particularly his demonstrated support for right-wing political parties and figures across Europe.

Platform for Far-Right Discourse

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Since acquiring X (formerly Twitter) in 2022 and reducing content moderation, the platform has become a space for far-right beliefs and conspiracy theories. Experts suggest this environment may be influencing Musk's own public statements. He has shared messages, often from white nationalist and far-right activists, that suggest white people are under threat. Musk has also publicly endorsed politicians such as Marine Le Pen of France's National Rally party and Tommy Robinson, a far-right activist.

Musk has also boosted right-wing politicians and parties in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, and the UK. He has shown support for Rupert Lowe's party, Restore Britain, which advocates for stricter immigration policies. Following a stabbing incident in Northern Ireland, Musk shared protest locations posted by Robinson, urging repeated and loud protests for change. He also posted that former Prime Minister Keir Starmer 'hates white people' and shared an image with the comment 'millions must go'.

Concerns Over Incitement and 'Remigration'

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The Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) reported that it tallied 4,000 calls for violence on X under posts by Musk, Lowe, and Robinson. Lowe, when contacted, dismissed the CCDH report as 'embarrassing guff'. Musk has also embraced the term 'remigration', which anti-immigration advocates use to describe mass deportations, potentially including legal migrants. Experts link this concept to violent activity, and Tarnoff, co-author of 'Muskism: A Guide for the Perplexed', stated that Musk and X have been instrumental in spreading this idea.

Musk's engagement extends to sharing talking points from individuals he follows on X, leading to what some describe as a 'tutoring relationship'. He has stated that 'Anyone who opposes remigration is a traitor'. The film 'Citizen Vigilante' itself, despite its violent and controversial themes, was praised by many far-right activists on X, even as others criticised its artistic merit.