Twitter boss Musk likes to present himself as the savior of freedom of expression. Twitter is now having the accounts of journalists from well-known US media blocked. CNN warns, “Twitter’s increasing instability and volatility should raise major concerns for anyone using the platform.”
Twitter has blocked the accounts of several journalists covering the company and its new boss, Elon Musk. More than half a dozen journalists were affected on Thursday. Some of them had reported the day before about the suspension of a user account on which all of Musk’s flights were documented.
Twitter gave no reason why the journalists’ accounts were suspended. Those affected work for well-known media such as CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Freelance journalists were also affected.
“The sudden and unwarranted suspension of journalists, including CCN’s Donie O’Sullivan, is worrying – but not surprising,” the TV network said. “Twitter’s increasing instability and volatility should raise major concerns for anyone using the platform.” CNN is demanding an explanation from Twitter and is making the response to the incident dependent on it.
Multi-billionaire Musk – currently the second richest person in the world behind French luxury goods mogul Bernard Arnault – has wreaked havoc on Twitter since the takeover in late October. He fired top management and around half the workforce and unlocked suspended accounts like that of former US President Donald Trump. Critics fear that under Musk’s leadership, hate speech and misinformation could skyrocket on Twitter.
Musk also justified his refusal to moderate content on Twitter by restoring freedom of expression. In principle, all users should be able to tweet whatever they want, as long as it is legal. For him, free speech is the top priority in a “functioning democracy”.
