Elon Musk said, “It’s encouraging to see journalists’ newfound love for free speech.” (file)
Elon Musk chose a sarcastic response today to criticism for suspending half a dozen journalists from Twitter. Musk tweeted about the press’s “freedom of speech” days after several journalists from major organizations like CNN, the New York Times and the Washington Post lost access to their accounts without warning.
It is very encouraging to see the newfound love of journalists for freedom of speech
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2022
“So inspiring to see the new love of free speech by journalists,” the one-time world’s richest man tweeted.
Musk, who acquired Twitter in October, has taken it personally, accusing journalists of endangering his family. What sparked this latest controversy was the suspension of his private jet tracking account. Musk said the move was necessary after a car carrying one of his children was followed in Los Angeles by “a crazy person,” who he blamed on an account that tracked his jet.
Some journalists reported the suspension of the jet tracker, which Musk said was “preparations to kill” his family, but there was no evidence for his claim.
“Doxxing someone’s real-time location information is a physical security breach and will be suspended. That includes posting links to sites with real-time location information. Not posting locations that are slightly delayed. A security issue, that’s right,” he said yesterday.
Interestingly, Musk tweeted a poll asking users if they “should suspend accounts that dox my exact location in real-time.” “Now” with 43 percent of the vote.
Suspend accounts that have toxed my exact location in real-time
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2022
Further progress on the suspension of journalists is expected as Musk has renewed the suspended accounts of former US President Donald Trump and others after a similar poll.
“If someone posts the real-time locations and addresses of NYT reporters, the FBI will investigate, Capitol Hill and Biden will give speeches about the end of democracy!” Again the billionaire tweeted and responded to the poll.
Twitter recently released a policy update that prohibits the sharing of live location information.
Musk lost the top spot on the world’s richest list this week to Bernard Arnold, chief executive of LVMH, the parent company of luxury brand Louis Vuitton. This, after he sold $3.6 billion worth of Tesla stock. He sold his stake in his electric vehicle company and raised $20 billion so far.
Twitter is also looking for new equity investors, according to recent reports.
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