Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, has signed a deal to buy social media Twitter with a promise to reduce censorship. But questions have been raised about what Elon Musk’s plans are for the ‘Digital Town Square’. Various human rights groups have expressed concern that the lack of censorship could lead to an increase in hate speech through social media.
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Elon Musk has promised to take the opportunity of free speech on Twitter. Many users have also questioned whether the move will result in the return of previously suspended accounts. Former US President Donald Trump has been suspended as a high-profile person on Twitter.
Following the announcement of the purchase, international human rights groups have expressed concern over the hate speech on Twitter and the power that the medium would give to Musk. Elon Musk describes himself as an absolute freedom of speech.
In the past, however, Musk has been a vocal critic of the organization’s various policies on moderation. “Twitter needs to be a real forum for freedom of speech,” he said.
In a statement issued after the signing of the agreement, Musk said that the basis of effective democracy is freedom of speech. In a tweet, Amnesty International said it would be “concerned” about any steps that could harm Twitter’s policies and practices in protecting users.
Twitter has permanently suspended Donald Trump’s account following the January 7 riots at the Capitol in Washington. However, if Twitter lifts the ban, it will not return. Instead, he will use his own platform, Truth Social.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, ” I’m not going to Twitter. I am living in truth . ‘ But Elon Musk will improve Twitter, and Trump has called him a “good man.”
However, the BBC did not respond to a request for comment from Donald Trump’s spokesman.
Ming-Chi Kuo, a technology analyst at investment management firm TF International Securities, told the BBC: “If Donald Trump runs in the 2024 election, he may reconsider his decision to return to this platform.”
Kuo said that if Twitter is willing to reinstate his account, then Twitter is still the best way to make Trump’s voice heard. It is not easy to build a more influential platform than Twitter before the next election.
Will people leave Twitter?
Elon Musk says: ‘He hopes that even his hardcore critics will be able to stay on this platform. According to him, this means freedom of speech.
However, some users have threatened to quit Twitter and others have already quit. Jamila Jamil, a British actress best known for her role in the television series The Good Place, said she hoped the platform would become more chaotic, hateful, misogynistic and misogynistic.
Addressing his 1 million followers, Jamil said, “I want this to be my last tweet.” “She’s on this platform right now,” said Caroline Or Bueno, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Maryland. He has 4.5 million followers on Twitter.
“We have no idea what Twitter will look like under Elon Musk,” he said. We know that if all decent people leave Twitter, things will get worse.
Uncertainty ahead
Twitter’s 11-member board of directors has unanimously agreed to buy Elon Musk for 4.4 billion. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, is still on the company’s board of directors. He said public conversations on Twitter would continue. He is happy with it.
In a tweet on Tuesday, he said Twitter wanted to become a public property at the protocol level, not the company. Although it is solving the problem of being a company. Even then, I believe, the only solution to this problem is Elon Musk. I believe in his goal of spreading the light of meditation.
According to British news agency Reuters, Twitter CEO Parag Agarwal said in a meeting with employees that the future of the company is now uncertain . Now that the deal is done, we don’t know which way this platform will go.
The reaction of politicians
On Monday, White House spokeswoman Jane Sackie told reporters that President Joe Biden has long been concerned about the power of large social media platforms, regardless of who owns or manages them.
Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren said the deal was “dangerous to our democracy.” It’s time to dump her and move on.
Meanwhile, Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn welcomed Elon Musk’s Twitter acquisition deal, calling it an “encouraging day” for freedom of speech.
