The dispute broke out following a June 12 broadcast of ZDFheute Live, a digital news program produced by the German public broadcaster, according to Brussels Signal. The program examined how social media influenced recent violence that erupted after authorities charged a Sudanese illegal immigrant with attempted murder of a local resident in Belfast.

During the program, presenters and guests analyzed the role played by online personalities, including Elon Musk and British activist Tommy Robinson, in fueling anti-immigrant sentiment across Northern Ireland.

The legal dispute centers on a segment in which a presenter claimed that Musk had called for a “hunt for migrants.” Musk strongly rejected the characterization, calling it a defamatory lie on his social media platform X and announcing that his legal team had been instructed to take legal action against ZDF.

The allegation stems from Musk’s decision to repost Robinson’s content during the Belfast riots, including messages calling for protests against immigration policy. Musk added his own commentary stating that “only repeated and LOUD protests will bring any change,” a post that gathered millions of views. Critics argue that such amplification fueled violence, while supporters maintain that Musk was simply endorsing the right to lawful protest.

The Belfast riots broke out after disturbing video footage showing a stabbing attack by a Sudanese illegal immigrant circulated online. Rioters set fire to homes, vehicles, and commercial properties, while police responded with water cannons and made numerous arrests. Political leaders in Northern Ireland blamed outside agitators for exploiting the incident to incite anti-immigrant hostility.

ZDF has acknowledged that the presenter’s wording may have been inaccurate and open to misinterpretation. However, the broadcaster stands by its broader coverage, maintaining that the program rigorously examined how prominent online figures amplified narratives surrounding the riots.

The lawsuit is expected to draw significant attention in Germany, where public broadcasters are already under growing pressure over concerns of political bias and editorial censorship. The case also highlights escalating tensions between traditional media and powerful social media figures over responsibility for online speech and its connection to real-world violence.

Musk has increasingly turned to legal action against news organizations and researchers he believes have misrepresented his words or actions. The dispute with ZDF now threatens to become a closely watched “test case” defining the boundary between legitimate journalistic interpretation and criminal defamation.