X fails to remove 62% of reported anti-Muslim hate posts, study finds
New study exposes widespread failures in moderating threats against Muslims and mosques, with paid accounts facing lower removal rates
WASHINGTON (MNTV) — Nearly two-thirds of social media posts threatening violence against Muslims or portraying them in dehumanizing terms remained accessible on Elon Musk’s X platform even after being reported, according to a new study exposing major gaps in the company’s enforcement of hate speech policies.
The report, released Wednesday by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate (CSOH) and Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative, examined 464 posts published by U.S.-based accounts between Jan. 10 and Sept. 9, 2026.
Researchers identified 270 posts explicitly advocating violence, including 160 calling for mosques to be burned and 110 demanding the killing of Muslims. Another 194 posts described Muslims using dehumanizing terms such as “vermin,” “cockroaches,” “parasites” and “infestation.”
After reporting all 464 posts through X’s official reporting system, researchers assessed their status seven days later.
They found that 200 posts, or 43%, remained fully accessible, while another 89, or 19%, were subject to visibility restrictions but could still be viewed. Only 171 posts were removed by the platform, while four were deleted by their authors.
Overall, 62% of the reported anti-Muslim content remained accessible, raising concerns about X’s ability to enforce its policies against violent threats and hateful conduct.
The findings revealed particularly weak enforcement against dehumanizing language. Of the 194 posts in that category, only six, or 3%, were removed, while 168 remained publicly accessible without restrictions.
Researchers also documented inconsistent moderation decisions involving nearly identical threats against mosques. Some posts were removed, others received visibility restrictions, and others remained untouched.
The study identified disparities between paid subscribers and ordinary users.
Posts from X Premium accounts were removed at a rate of 26%, compared with 41% for unverified accounts.
Paid subscribers were also more likely to repeatedly publish abusive content. About 20.5% of blue-badge accounts posted multiple violations, compared with 9% of standard accounts.
The report warned that portraying Muslims as subhuman could contribute to an environment in which violence against religious minorities becomes increasingly normalized.
Its findings come amid growing concerns over Islamophobia in the United States.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) recorded 8,683 civil rights complaints in 2025, its highest annual total since beginning documentation in 1996.
The report also cited a May 2026 shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego that killed three people, followed by a reported 183% increase in incidents targeting mosques over the subsequent three months.
Researchers linked X’s enforcement problems partly to changes introduced after Musk acquired the platform in October 2022.
The company’s global trust and safety workforce declined by approximately 30%, while its dedicated safety engineering staff fell by 80%, according to figures cited in the study.
X’s own data showed suspensions for hateful conduct dropped approximately 98% between late 2021 and the first half of 2024.
The findings add to scrutiny of the platform’s moderation practices, which have also faced regulatory action in Europe.
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