Twitter: Musk will reactivate suspended journalist accounts
Ever since he bought Twitter for $44 billion, Elon Musk has enjoyed playing the sorcerer’s apprentice, coming up with an idea one day and contradicting it the next. The procrastination of the man who will become the second richest man in the world after Bernard Arnault (minority shareholder), according to Forbes. Challenges), may be funny, but when it comes to freedom of the press and freedom of expression, it can be downright troubling. After dozens of journalists’ accounts were suspended New York Times, from Washington post or even CNN announced that they were reactivated on Friday, December 16, after accusing Elon Musk of endangering his family.
Repeated scandals not only affect Elon Musk’s image; hits his wealth. Journal Forbes no longer classifies him as the richest man in the world. His fortune would be “more than” $178 billion, which was $219 billion in August, a historic record. It is about falling prices of Tesla, the car manufacturer he leads. Elon Musk upset many investors by selling a lot of Tesla shares to finance his project for Twitter.
The people have spoken.
Accounts violating my location will now be unsuspended. https://t.co/MFdXbEQFCe
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 17, 2022
“Everyone will be treated equally”
The controversy began on December 14 after the billionaire announced that he was suspending his @elonjet account, which automatically reported his private jet trips. Some accounts later tweeted about the decision. Elon Musk justified the suspension of the accounts by claiming that it endangered the safety of him and his family.
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“Everybody will be treated the same,” Elon Musk said in a live chat on Twitter on Friday, saying there would be no privileges for journalists. Restarting the thread, he left the discussion and later disabled the Twitter Spaces audio chat service due to a “technical issue”. In a tweet late Thursday night, the billionaire announced a “seven-day temporary suspension of his accounts. Engaged in doxing.” The term “doxing” refers to the public disclosure of personal information about a person on the Internet without their consent. The suspension of the accounts has sparked protests.
Conflicting messages about freedom of expression
The United Nations strongly condemned the suspension of these accounts by Elon Musk, a self-proclaimed defender of freedom of expression. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said: “The decision sets a dangerous precedent at a time when journalists everywhere face censorship, physical threats and worse.
Elon Musk then launched a poll on Twitter asking whether he should reinstate suspended accounts immediately or within a week. About 59% of the 3.69 million Internet users surveyed said they needed immediate restoration.. “The people have spoken. Accounts posting my location will be unsuspended,” the billionaire tweeted. Some accounts have been reactivated, such as that of former Vox journalist Aaron Rupar.
I want to thank everyone for all the support and kind words over the past day and some of the changes. I was very disappointed to be stopped at the beginning, but I quickly realized that it will be okay because I am blessed to have an amazing online community. Seriously, I really appreciate it. Bye
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 17, 2022
After the billionaire took over the platform for $44 billion, he sent mixed messages about what was allowed and what wasn’t. An ardent defender of freedom of expression — as long as records respect the law — he reinstated accounts previously banned by the social network, including Donald Trump’s. But he also suspended Kanye West’s message after several posts deemed anti-Semitic and refused to return to the platform of far-right assassin Alex Jones.
