Rampant and unusual movements are happening on Twitter. It is unstoppable and chaotic. The credit for the unwarranted decisions goes to its new CEO Elon Musk. It has been a field day for many users due to the radical and swift policy changes on the platform. After the employees faced the brunt of Musk’s takeover, thhe journalists are the new targets.
When Musk was in the process of buying Twitter, he shared his vision as to what changes he wanted to bring forth making it freer. He ensured Twitter 2.0 will uphold free speech. But, now, it looks like the new CEO is not standing by his word after the purchase. The free speech is curtailed when it affects Musk. After firing veteran employees for disagreeing with him on the platform, he has now banned journalists from some prominent news reporting organizations.
Read More: Does Elon Musk Really Believe In Free Speech? His Actions Contradict His Views
Elon Musk Fired Journalists From Eminent News Organizations
Since Elon Musk confirmed his Twitter deal, he has been a major advocate for free speech on the microblogging site. When he announced his Twitter deal in April 2022, he said, “Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and Twitter is the digital town square where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated”.
He has projected himself as someone who upholds the “First Amendment” of the US Constitution. The billionaire said that he is against censorship “that goes far beyond the law”.
However, his recent actions are contradictory to his statements. On December 15th, 2022, Elon Musk fired many journalists who worked for prominent news organizations including The New York Times, Washington Post, and others. Journalists like Donie O’Sullivan, a technology and politics journalist.
He told his fellow journalists that Twittwhe and other journalists were banned because they allegedly shared his live location. But they only shared stories updating the unfolding of the ban on the accounts that tracked the live movements of private jets of eminent personalities including Elon Musk.
The winner of the George Polk Award along with his team who unearthed the “Pegasus Project”, Drew Harwell who works for The Washington Post was also suspended on Twitter including The New York Times Ryan Mac, who reported that Musk banned accounts that followed the private jets of billionaires.
Read More: Why Elon Musk Will Discard The ‘Legacy Blue Checks’?
The CEO Claimed That The Journalists Doxxed His Real Location
In an official statement, CNN said, “Twitter’s increasing instability and volatility should be of incredible concern for everyone”. On December 14th, 2022, Elon Musk banned several Twitter accounts that tracked his private jet. Jack Sweeney. He considered Musk an idol but after the suspension fiasco, he realized that the tech mogul does not stand by his word. After banning the journalists, he replied to a tweet.
He said, “Criticizing me all day long is totally fine, but doxxing my real-time location and endangering my family is not”. Musk announced that the accounts
The Tesla owner conducted a poll like he did to reinstate Trump, where people were positive to restore his account, but he did not gain the results he expected. In his first poll, he asked people whether he should unsuspend the accounts that doxxed his real location, 43% of people asked him to do it immediately.
In the second poll, he asked the same question but provided two alternatives: “Now” or “In 7 days”. 58% of the people asked him to unsuspend the accounts “Now”. He wrote after the first poll when the majority of people wanted the accounts to be restored, “If anyone posted real-time locations & addresses of NYT reporters, FBI would be investigating, there’d be hearings on Capitol Hill & Biden would give speeches about end of democracy!”
Read More: Did Elon Musk Discriminate Against Women During Layoffs?
