Britain’s Royal Society is set to hold an important meeting on Monday following growing calls to expel tech billionaire Elon Musk from the prestigious institution. Musk, who is the owner of X (formerly Twitter), was elected as a fellow in 2018, but his recent actions and public statements have sparked significant controversy.
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is considered one of the world’s leading scientific organizations. Its fellowship includes some of history’s most influential scientists, such as Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, and Stephen Hawking. However, Musk’s behavior has raised concerns among members, prompting the Society to review its policies on public conduct and the responsibilities of its fellows.
More than 3,000 people, including Nobel laureates, recently signed an open letter condemning Musk for spreading misinformation. The letter argues that Musk has violated the Royal Society’s code of conduct by promoting unfounded conspiracy theories and making misleading statements, particularly about COVID-19, vaccines, and health issues. Critics also point to changes Musk made to X after his acquisition of the platform in 2022, which they say have contributed to the spread of misinformation.
Stephen Curry, a professor at Imperial College London and one of the letter’s authors, emphasized that the issue was not about political views, but rather Musk’s disregard for evidence. “He’s widely reported to be one of the most active disseminators of misinformation on Twitter, and that’s not something that aligns with the Society’s code of conduct,” Curry explained.
The Royal Society, with its 1,800 fellows and foreign members, including 85 Nobel laureates, strives to advance science for the benefit of humanity. While the Society acknowledges Musk’s contributions to space exploration and electric vehicles through SpaceX and Tesla, many members believe his actions on social media are in direct conflict with the Society’s mission to promote scientific integrity.
Monday’s meeting, which will be held privately, is expected to address these concerns. The Royal Society has not indicated what specific actions might be taken, but a statement emphasized that any issues concerning individual fellows are dealt with confidentially.
Stephen Curry expressed hope that the meeting would demonstrate the Royal Society’s commitment to defending its values, particularly at a time when science faces increasing scrutiny and misinformation, especially in the US. “I hope today the Fellows will have the wisdom and courage to demonstrate that the Royal Society can mount a public defence of its values,” he wrote on BlueSky, a platform competing with X.
The outcome of Monday’s discussion could have significant implications for Musk’s future with the Royal Society, as well as for the organization’s broader stance on misinformation and the responsibilities of its members.
