- CZ urges Musk to disable API posting on X, citing spam, impersonation, and fraudulent activities affecting real user interactions.
- Reports indicate automated accounts still dominate X, with bots making up 20% to 90% of the platform’s traffic before Musk’s takeover.
- Musk’s anti-bot measures face challenges as scammers exploit verification systems, allowing bot accounts to gain legitimacy through paid subscriptions.
Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has urged Elon Musk to take action against automated bot accounts on X. He emphasized that bots flood the platform with spam, impersonation, and scams. He called for disabling API posting, which enables automated accounts to publish content without manual input.
CZ Advocates for Real User Interaction
In a March 9 post, CZ stated that automatic posting should be restricted to curb spam activity. He suggested that users could manually copy and paste AI-generated tweets instead of relying on automation. He expressed his preference for interacting with real people rather than automated accounts.
He differentiated AI agents from social media bots, explaining that AI tools serve practical purposes such as booking hotels or generating code. Bot activity has remained a persistent issue on X, particularly within cryptocurrency-related conversations.
Scammers operate automated accounts to impersonate public figures and distribute phishing links. These fraudulent accounts push misleading promotions and pump-and-dump schemes. Last year, CZ cautioned users about fake profiles impersonating him and encouraged them to report such accounts.
Musk’s Ongoing Battle With Bots on X
Elon Musk has taken measures against bot activity on X but has seen limited success. Reports indicate that automated accounts still contribute significantly to platform traffic. According to Bloomberg, Musk stated that bots made up 20% to 90% of Twitter’s traffic before he acquired the company. In 2023, cybersecurity firm CHEQ reported that a majority of traffic from X was inauthentic.
Despite Musk’s crackdown, bot creation has evolved into a structured operation. AI-generated spam has overwhelmed X, allowing scammers to exploit automation. Some bots promote fraudulent cryptocurrency projects, while others operate romance scams to deceive users into fraudulent transactions. These scams build trust over time before leading victims to fake investment schemes.
Musk previously proposed a small fee per post to curb bot activity. However, the idea received public criticism and remains unimplemented. Bot operators have also exploited X’s verification system. Automated accounts gain verification through paid subscriptions, increasing their legitimacy. Some bot accounts display blue checkmarks, making them harder to identify as fraudulent.