Agencies WASHINGTON

Tech billionaire Elon Musk faces backlash from conservatives over alleged censorship on X, formerly Twitter. At least 14 prominent right-wing accounts reported losing their blue verification badges and access to premium features, including monetization tools, after criticizing Musk's immigration views, according to NBC News. Some claim the number of affected accounts is higher.

While the accounts remain active, the loss of monetization features has raised concerns among users about their ability to continue posting. Critics see these actions as a betrayal by Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022, vowing to champion free speech and combat perceived bias against conservatives.

Despite branding himself a free-expression advocate, Musk has also called for the imprisonment of some of his critics.

Musk and X did not respond to requests for comment. However, shortly before complaints surfaced, Musk posted a message on X, stating that the platform’s algorithm reduces a user’s reach if they are frequently muted or blocked by credible accounts. “If far more credible, verified subscriber accounts mute/block your account compared to those who like your posts, your reach will decline significantly,” he wrote.

The controversy unfolded amid heated debates on immigration policy under President-elect Donald Trump, with anti-immigration MAGA loyalists opposing pro-immigration voices, including Musk. Many affected accounts are affiliated with ConservativeOG, a right-wing media brand.

Preston Parra, a 23-year-old influencer and ConservativeOG leader, labeled X’s actions a “political takedown” for dissenting from Musk’s pro-immigration stance.