Latest news with #X
Gizmodo
19 minutes ago
- Gizmodo
Elmo Breaks Silence on His Antisemitic Social Media Posts
Over the weekend, some sort of cybercrime cretin hacked into the X account belonging to Elmo, the friendly puppet from Sesame Street, and used it to spout a bilge of anti-semitic and racist material. 'Kill all Jews,' read one post. Another mentioned Jeffrey Epstein, with the added scrawl: 'ALL JEWS SHOULD DIE.' Yet another post used the N-word. The posts remained online until Tuesday, when they were taken down. Elmo followed up the vitriolic posts with a return to his usual brand of warmhearted affection: 'Elmo loves you,' the puppet posted. However, the lack of an immediate apology from the puppet's account left some web users angry. Many X users insisted that the account should address the incident, and seemed to treat Elmo as if he were a real person instead of a fictional TV character. Many of the accounts that expressed anger at Elmo mentioned Israel or included emojis of Israeli flags. 'Still not a single word of apology from @elmo or team,' wrote one account on Monday, whose bio included an Israeli flag. 'No apologies for your poor behavior? Teaching everyone Jew hate is normal?' another account, whose profile reads 'Antizionism is a hate movement,' posted. Meanwhile, the account for Canary Mission, a controversial pro-Israel group, wrote: 'Elmo's account tweeted: 'Kill all Jews.' Sesame Street blamed a 'hack.' No proof. No apology. No accountability. Christina Vittas — the person behind Elmo — still has her job. We demand a real investigation. Or fire the person responsible.' Another group, the Combat Antisemitism Movement, wrote: 'Even though the tweets were deleted, they were seen by thousands. No apology. No explanation yet. We call on the Sesame Street team to urgently investigate this breach, review account security and staff access, and issue a public apology. This wasn't a joke. It was a call for murder.' Yet another account, whose bio includes the Israeli flag, wrote: 'I investigated the source of the @elmo incident — since Sesame Street has not apologized. I found it. This is why you shouldn't allow your kids to listen to Ms. Rachel.' The account then shared images of Rachel Griffin-Accurso, a children's entertainer who has appeared alongside Elmo in several episodes of Sesame Street. Griffin-Accurso has been targeted by Jewish advocacy groups over her rhetoric in support of Gazan children. In April, the advocacy group StopAntisemitism labeled Griffin-Accurso its 'Antisemite of the Week,' apparently for having the temerity to repeatedly suggest that children shouldn't starve to death or have their limbs blown off. On Tuesday, Elmo's account finally issued an apology: 'On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in place,' a statement shared online reads. 'We strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured. These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved.' To some web users, however, the apology was still not enough. Several accounts bemoaned that it had taken the account too long to say anything about the incident. 'This took TWO full days to write?' one account asked. While a certain amount of outrage is clearly understandable, the notion that Elmo, himself, or the people who ran his account were responsible for some sort of hateful screed on X, seems dubious at best. That said, it's unclear why it took the account a while to issue a statement. Gizmodo reached out to the Sesame Workshop for more information. To be sure, there were also quite a few web users who responded to the whole debacle with bemusement and humor instead of outrage. Many joked that Kanye West, who recently released a single called 'Heil Hitler' and has referred to himself as a 'Nazi,' had hijacked Elmo's account. X (or Twitter, as it was previously known) has never been a platform that is particularly well known for account security. Prior to Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform, high-level accounts were hacked quite often—including those belonging to Barack Obama, Jeff Bezos, Kim Kardashian, and Joe Biden. After Musk's acquisition in 2022, the site has remained a place where account hijackings are common.
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Sesame Street responds to vile hacking of Elmo's X account
Sesame Workshop has again addressed the embarrassing hack it suffered on Monday when a hacker accessed the Elmo account and posted a series of shocking posts targeting Jewish people and trolling President Donald Trump. 'On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in place,' read a tweet from the Sesame Workshop. The statement continued, 'We strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured. 'These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved.' A spokesperson for Sesame Workshop previously confirmed the digital security breach to Daily Mail on Sunday evening. 'Elmo's X account was compromised today by an unknown hacker who posted disgusting messages, including antisemitic and racist posts,' the rep said. 'We are working to restore full control of the account.' Following the post from the Sesame Workshop, a number of followers on the platform peppered in responses that ranged from jokes to troubleshooting. 'I don't believe you were hacked,' said one user. 'I think the real Elmo came out.' Another user wryly chimed in, 'Big Bird's silence on this issue has been deafening.' One user went on a long rant at the character, saying, 'Elmo, I've been crying and throwing up ever since you posted those very hateful things. 'The truth of it is you were a role model to me growing up and because of that I would always tickle you whenever you asked. The statement ended, 'After what happened on Sunday I was forced to throw you in the dumpster out back my local Chili's and will no longer be having you in my life. Goodbye old friend.' Multiple users rejected Sesame Workshop's denial anyone from their side was involved. 'Sesame workshop has become beyond woke and I guarantee it was someone internal,' one user said. 'If I allowed some sort of breach like this at my job, I would be fired. @SesameWorkshop take accountability. The user said the late Sesame Street founder Jim Henson 'would be horrified' at the lack of accountability in the wake of the humiliating security breach. Following the post from the Sesame Workshop, a number of followers on the platform peppered in responses that ranged from jokes to troubleshooting Another added: 'Serious question. Is anyone ever hacked by an "inside party?" Your inability to apologize MUCH SOONER is weak. But most concerning is that no one believes you were hacked. 'We believe you have an employee who did this intentionally but you haven't explained this because then, of course, we'd all want to know who did it and then expect them to be fired, etc. 'See, the longer you all don't provide details, the more the pressure grows to know more.' The account for Elmo, under the handle @elmo, has more than 639,800 followers, and has been on the platform since November of 2012. 'Elmo lives on Sesame Street and was told to tell you that Elmo is official!' a bio line on the social media page read. On Sunday, it was clear the account had been commandeered by rogue actors, as a series of messages posted called for violence against Jewish people. The post repeated a series of antisemitic tropes and called for harm against Jewish people. The post also took aim at the president, saying, ' DONALD TRUMP IS NETANYAHU'S PUPPET BECAUSE HE IS IN THE EPSTEIN FILE.' One message tagged in President Donald Trump that read: 'RELEASE THE FILES @readDonaldTrump' along with an offensive term directed at Trump. The hacker also peppered in more sharp responses to people who condemned the racist prank. When one person expressed their frustration with the posts from the account, a profane response used a racial epithet aimed at Black people. When another person said they were going to mute Elmo, a response from the Elmo account contained a transphobic slur. The unlikely hack and subsequent shock messages led for Elmo to become a trending topic on the platform, with a number of different takes on the incident. 'Hacking the official Elmo account gotta be one of the most diabolical things this app has ever seen,' one response read. The account for Elmo, under the handle @elmo, has more than 639,800 followers, and has been on the platform since November of 2012 One social media user said that the incident provided an insight into how deeply antisemitism is embedded in some people A few people made reference to rapper Kanye West's history of antisemitic X posts, which he has since distanced himself from. 'Kanye and Elmo should collab sometime,' one user said, while another asked, 'Who let Kanye on Elmo's account?' One user posted a long-circulating meme of the Sesame Street character standing in front of flames to aptly summarize the situation with the hacker. One social media user said that the incident provided an insight into how deeply antisemitism is embedded in some people. 'This is a real tweet from the Elmo X account. It has since been deleted,' said the user. 'We're dealing with depraved immoral sociopaths who target even a beloved children's character in order to incite violence and hate against Jews.'
Geeky Gadgets
12 hours ago
- Business
- Geeky Gadgets
Grok 4 Review : Does Grok 4 Deserve a Spot In Your AI Stack?
Is Grok 4 the innovative AI tool your workflow has been missing, or just another overhyped addition to a crowded market? With promises of real-time data analysis, coding automation, and even pitch refinement, it certainly sounds like a must-have for businesses looking to stay ahead. But as with any tool claiming to 'do it all,' the real question is: does it deliver where it matters most? Whether you're a startup founder chasing funding, a marketer seeking actionable insights, or a developer looking to save time, Grok 4's ambitious feature set will either impress—or leave you questioning its place in your AI stack. In this overview, Greg Isenberg breaks down Grok 4's strengths and limitations to help you decide if it's worth your investment. From its trend forecasting capabilities to its ability to analyze customer feedback, you'll discover where Grok 4 excels and where it falls short. But don't expect a one-size-fits-all answer—this isn't about hype; it's about finding the right fit for your unique needs. By the end, you'll have a clearer sense of whether Grok 4 deserves a spot in your toolkit—or if your resources are better spent elsewhere. Sometimes, the right tool isn't the flashiest one, but the one that aligns with your goals. Grok 4: Strengths and Limitations Real-Time Data Analysis: A Competitive Edge One of Grok 4's most notable strengths lies in its ability to process and analyze real-time data. This feature is particularly effective when applied to platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where it can: Conduct competitor analysis Identify market gaps Uncover customer pain points For example, Grok 4 can analyze trending topics and customer sentiment to pinpoint untapped opportunities, giving businesses a significant edge in staying ahead of market trends. This capability is especially valuable for industries that rely on rapid decision-making and adaptability. However, its reliance on specific data sources can be a drawback, particularly in niche markets where unconventional or proprietary datasets are critical. This limitation may reduce its effectiveness for businesses operating in highly specialized sectors. Coding Automation: Useful but Not New For developers, Grok 4 offers practical tools for generating clean Python code, complete with error handling and deployment instructions. This feature is particularly useful for creating minimum viable products (MVPs) or automating repetitive coding tasks. Additionally, Grok 4 analyzes user behavior to suggest workflow optimizations, helping to identify time-saving strategies and streamline development processes. While these features are undeniably helpful, they may not outperform specialized coding platforms like Replit or GitHub Copilot, which are tailored specifically for developers. Advanced users may find Grok 4's coding capabilities somewhat limited, particularly when tackling complex or highly customized projects. As a result, it may serve better as a supplementary tool rather than a primary coding solution. Grok 4: Should It Be in Your AI Toolkit? Watch this video on YouTube. Here is a selection of other guides from our extensive library of content you may find of interest on Grok. Fundraising Pitch Refinement: A Valuable Resource for Startups One of Grok 4's standout features is its ability to refine fundraising pitches. It evaluates pitch decks, identifies weaknesses, and provides data-driven suggestions for improvement. Additionally, it predicts potential investor objections and generates counterarguments to strengthen your case. For startups and entrepreneurs, this feature can be a fantastic option. By offering actionable insights and enhancing the quality of investor communications, Grok 4 increases the likelihood of securing funding. This capability is particularly beneficial for early-stage companies that may lack the resources or expertise to craft compelling pitches independently. However, its effectiveness depends on the quality of input provided, as vague or incomplete data may limit its ability to deliver meaningful recommendations. Content Marketing and Customer Feedback: Mixed Results In content marketing, Grok 4 demonstrates potential but struggles to deliver comprehensive strategies without detailed input. When provided with specific examples or styles to emulate, its performance improves significantly, particularly for crafting posts on platforms like X. However, its inability to independently generate high-quality strategies may limit its appeal for marketers seeking a more autonomous solution. On the other hand, Grok 4 excels in customer feedback analysis. It can: Identify recurring themes in customer feedback Calculate Net Promoter Scores (NPS) Suggest actionable product improvements Forecast the potential impact of changes on customer retention These features make it a powerful tool for product managers and customer experience teams aiming to enhance satisfaction and retention. By providing clear, data-driven insights, Grok 4 enables businesses to make informed decisions that align with customer needs and expectations. Negotiation Scripting and Trend Forecasting: Strong Performers Grok 4's negotiation scripting tools are another area where it shines. It generates tailored scripts for salary or deal negotiations, anticipates potential objections, and suggests strategies to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. This feature is particularly useful for professionals in sales, human resources, or business development roles. Its trend forecasting capabilities are equally impressive. By analyzing real-time data, Grok 4 identifies emerging trends and proposes actionable product ideas, complete with growth projections. These insights can help businesses stay ahead of the curve, fostering innovation and maintaining a competitive edge in dynamic markets. Branding, Visual Design, and Conversational AI: Room for Improvement In the realm of branding and visual design, Grok 4 offers tools for generating logos and visual concepts. While these features are useful for brainstorming, they often lack the precision and consistency required for finalized designs. As a result, Grok 4 is better suited for ideation rather than execution in this area. Its conversational AI avatars provide an engaging and interactive experience, but their niche appeal may limit their broader adoption. However, the voice interaction feature stands out as a practical and efficient way to brainstorm ideas and interact with the platform. This functionality may appeal to users who prefer hands-free or auditory interfaces, though its overall utility depends on individual preferences and workflows. Is Grok 4 the Right Fit for Your Needs? Grok 4 offers a range of features that cater to diverse business needs, excelling in areas such as real-time data analysis, customer feedback, pitch refinement, and trend forecasting. Its ability to deliver actionable insights and automate repetitive tasks makes it a valuable addition to any AI toolkit. However, its limitations in content marketing strategy, branding design, and coding automation suggest that it may not be a one-size-fits-all solution. Ultimately, Grok 4's utility depends on your specific goals and workflows. If your priorities include using real-time insights, improving customer satisfaction, and streamlining processes, Grok 4 can be a powerful asset. For more specialized or creative tasks, however, you may need to supplement it with other tools to achieve optimal results. Media Credit: Greg Isenberg Filed Under: AI, Top News Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Houthi-linked dealers sell arms on X and WhatsApp, report says
Arms dealers affiliated with Houthi militants in Yemen are using X and Meta platforms to traffic weapons – some US-made – in apparent violation of the social media firms' policies, a report has revealed. The Houthis, an Iran-backed group of rebels who have controlled swathes of Yemen since 2014, are designated as a terrorist organisation by the US, Canada and other countries. The report by the Washington DC-based Tech Transparency Project (TTP), which focuses on accountability for big tech, found Houthi-affiliated arms dealers have been openly operating commercial weapon stores for months, and in some cases years, on both platforms. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, and X are scaling back their content moderation policies at a moment when experts say disinformation and illicit trafficking is on the rise. The 130 Yemen-based X accounts and 67 WhatsApp business accounts identified by TTP offered high-powered rifles, grenade launchers and other military equipment for sale. Many of the arms dealers sold what appeared to be US-produced weapons, some emblazoned with 'Property of US Govt', as well as other western military weapons that were stamped with 'Nato'. The report does not specify the arms dealers' customers but given the high price of the weapons, with some rifles being sold for as much as $10,000 (£7,500), it is likely buyers could be other militants. X and Meta prohibit arms dealing on their platforms. Many of the arms dealers were subscribers to X Premium and users of WhatsApp Business – services that are supposed to be moderated. Katie Paul, the director of TTP, said: 'X and WhatsApp both have policies against weapons sales but they are allowing arms traders linked to a US-designated terrorist group to traffic weapons on their platforms. In some cases these companies may be profiting off violations of their own policies that create risks for US national security.' More than half of the X accounts listed their location as Sana'a, the Houthi-controlled capital of Yemen, and many regularly shared pro-Houthi content. Others sold weapons in containers marked with the Houthi logo, which states 'God is great, death to America, death to Israel, curse be upon the Jews, victory to Islam'. Several accounts identified by TTP were subscribed to X Premium, which allowed them to post extended videos. One account featured an 'unboxing' video of an American M249 SAW, a light machine gun used by the US military. Other accounts used the tip feature, which allows X users to directly send donations to them. X prohibits the use of its platforms by individuals who 'promote [terrorist organisations'] illicit activities', and says it does not allow terrorist groups to use its premium services. Adverts appeared in the comments of posts selling weapons, suggesting X could be making money off the posts. In one instance, X placed an ad for a company selling Tesla accessories under a post where an arms dealer offered an 'all-American' Glock 17 handgun. After Elon Musk bought X in 2022, he laid off about 80% of the company's trust and safety team, which was dedicated to content moderation. A previous report by TTP found that more than 200 accounts affiliated with terrorist and other sanctioned groups had blue ticks and were subscribed to X Premium. A few of the Houthi-linked arms dealers interacted with Musk himself on X. When Musk posted a video of himself firing a Barret .50-caliber sniper rifle in September 2023, three arms dealers replied to him advertising their own guns, which included two AR-15s. X declined to comment on the findings of TTP's investigation when approached by the Guardian. Many of the arms dealers also used WhatsApp business accounts with the 'catalogue' feature, which allows a slideshow of products to be displayed, to showcase a catalogue of weapons. One such account offered dozens of guns, including a Glock pistol wrapped in a custom skin showing images of the Lincoln Memorial, the White House and an American colonial-era soldier with the words 'Preserve, Protect, Defend' written on it. WhatsApp says it reviews business account profiles and checks images before they are added to catalogues. It is unclear why the review process missed the images and accounts, many of which clearly identify themselves as arms dealers and link to Yemeni bricks-and-mortar gun shops in their biographies. A spokesperson for WhatsApp said: 'If we identify or are made aware of US-designated terrorist organisations attempting to use our service, we will take appropriate action – including banning accounts – to comply with our legal obligations.' WhatsApp then banned two accounts sent by the Guardian. It clarified that it did not make profit from the type of accounts in question, but it did not otherwise reply to questions as to how the company's review processes initially missed the arms dealers' accounts. Meta has laid off thousands of employees in the last two years, many dedicated to safety. In January, Meta vowed to roll back content moderation, in what seemed to be an acknowledgment of Donald Trump's complaints of censorship on social media platforms. TTP found that the vast majority of the Houthi-affiliated arms dealers' accounts on X and WhatsApp were created after the layoffs at both companies. Paul said: 'Both Meta and X have the capital, the tools and the human resources to address this problem, but they're not doing so.' Besides content moderation issues, TTP's findings also raised questions about global arms smuggling. Taimur Khan, the head of Gulf regional operations at Conflict Armament Research, said tracing exactly how US-made weapons got to Houthi-held territory was difficult and there were several possible explanations. Some of the weapons, particularly the American M4 rifles, were possibly from stocks supplied to Yemeni government forces before 2014 that were seized by the Houthis when they launched their insurgency. Khan said other US weapons being sold by the accounts appeared 'to have been diverted more recently' and were made for civilian customers rather than soldiers. Those weapons could have been trafficked from the US to Yemen through the Gulf and elsewhere in the region or by other means, he added. Non-American weapons are also smuggled into Yemen along other regional trafficking routes. They are also supplied directly to the Houthis via their allies, such as Iran. Earlier this year, the US imposed sanctions on a Houthi arms smuggling network that was accused of procuring 'tens of millions of dollars'' worth of Russian weapons with the assistance of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. 'The arms that are being advertised in Houthi-controlled areas by weapon dealers, who are at some level linked to the Houthis, reflect all the different vectors of supply in Yemen,' Khan said.
Al Bawaba
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Bawaba
Elmo returns to X after 'mechahitler' and Epstein client list posts
Published July 16th, 2025 - 05:57 GMT ALBAWABA - Just days after Elmo's official account on X (formerly known as Twitter) was hacked, resulting in posts calling for the death of Jews and the release of the Epstein client list, the account has returned to its rightful owner. Three days prior, the hacked Elmo account referred to itself as "mechahitler" while calling US President Donald Trump the puppet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a client on the notorious Epstein list. The viral incident sparked widespread controversy on social media due to the posts' political topics. On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured. These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop… — Elmo (@elmo) July 15, 2025 Elmo's X account released a statement condemning the hacker's words, which read, "On Sunday, Elmo's X account was briefly hacked by an outside party, in spite of the security measures in place. We strongly condemn the abhorrent antisemitic and racist content, and the account has since been secured." The statement added, "These posts in no way reflect the values of Sesame Workshop or Sesame Street, and no one at the organization was involved." Before posting the statement, the account wrote on X, "Thank you for being kind to Elmo and all the people in your neighborhood. Elmo loves you." The statement resulted in a flood of comments from angry parents demanding an apology from Elmo. A parent wrote on X, "I now can't stop my kids from repeating the words and language you used that day. Thanks Elmo." Another parent added, "This is bigger than an apology. How can parents know @sesamestreet apps are safe for kids? sorry does not get to the root for how this happened. What safety measures have been taken to ensure it never happens again?" Reports about Jeffrey Epstein were reignited by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after they revealed that he committed suicide during his prison sentence and didn't have a client list for his notorious island. In addition to its official claims, the DOJ released a video that captured Esptein in his cell alone during the night he died, revealing no foul play or an external factor. However, the closure of years of speculation, conspiracy theories, and political tensions didn't sit well with many individuals, sparking more debate and rumors on social media. © 2000 - 2025 Al Bawaba (
