Britain’s Royal Society is set to hold a crucial meeting on Monday following calls for the expulsion of Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and owner of X (formerly Twitter), from the prestigious scientific institution.
Founded in 1660, the Royal Society is home to some of the most renowned scientists globally, with past members such as Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Dorothy Hodgkin, Benjamin Franklin, and Stephen Hawking.
Musk, who became a fellow in 2018, has faced growing scrutiny from members of the Royal Society, prompting the organization to announce it will review the “principles surrounding public statements and behavior of fellows.” This follows an open letter signed by over 3,000 individuals, including Nobel laureates, which accuses Musk of violating the Society’s code of conduct by promoting “unfounded conspiracy theories.”
Researchers argue that changes Musk implemented on X after acquiring the platform in 2022 have contributed to an increase in misinformation. Musk has also been criticized for spreading false claims about COVID-19, vaccines, miscarriages, and heart problems via his personal account.
Stephen Curry, a professor of structural biology at Imperial College London and one of the letter’s authors, clarified that the issue is not about regulating political views or enforcing political conformity.
Instead, he emphasized that Musk’s failure to respect evidence and his role in disseminating misinformation on X are the primary concerns. “This is not consistent with the code of conduct,” Curry stated.
The Royal Society, with 1,800 fellows and foreign members, including 85 Nobel laureates, has long been dedicated to advancing science for the benefit of humanity and the planet. While the Society acknowledges Musk’s work with SpaceX and Tesla, the growing controversy surrounding his actions has raised doubts about his membership.
The meeting on Monday will be held behind closed doors, with all members invited, but it remains unclear what actions the Society may take.
In a statement to AFP, the Royal Society emphasized that any concerns regarding individual fellows are addressed with strict confidentiality.
As the discussion unfolds, Curry noted that this is a critical moment to defend the values of scientific integrity, especially as science faces increasing challenges globally.
