A Contrasted Reality
Since the arrival of Elon Musk at the head of Twitter, renamed Xnotable transformations have taken place in the management of the platform. The first transparency report shed light on internal figures regarding the application of moderation policies. This data reveals a picture that contradicts the image of an absolute defender of free speech that Musk tries to project.
Since Musk’s takeover of Twitter, suspensions non-spam accounts have increased significantly. During the first six months of the year, the platform suspended 5,3 millions users, far surpassing the 1,6 million of suspensions from the same period the previous year. These figures raise questions about the true nature of the platform in the Musk era.
It is also striking to note that these suspensions are accompanied by a diminution apparent in the number of active Twitter users. This could signal tougher measures against rule-breaking users, while also highlighting a possible increase in hate speech on the platform, sentiments often attributed to Musk’s politics.
Cooperation with the Authorities
One aspect that particularly highlights this contradiction is the way Tesla collaborates with government requests. Data from the first half of the year reveals that the platform has yielded to 71 % thousands of legal requests to remove posts. This figure is much higher than 50 % appeared in 2021.
The requests mainly come from a few countries, such as Japan, South Korea, and Turkey, with which Musk has personal ties. The Brazilian scandal caused a stir when the courts threatened to block Twitter because of the dissemination of false information, pushing Musk to give in to the pressure.
A Contested Moderation
It is commonly accepted that a large social network requires some form of moderation. However, Musk’s management raises questions about the fairness of his decisions. Although he has reinstated accounts of political figures sympathetic to him, others, such as journalists critical of him, have been banned.
Recently, a journalist was suspended for sharing a link to a hacked dossier regarding JD VanceTrump’s chosen vice-presidential candidate, which once again highlighted a bias in the application of moderation rules.
The variations in decisions Musk makes offer insight into the complexity of his vision of free speech, with requirements that appear to fluctuate widely. The notable increase in suspensions remains, in itself, a matter of concern for users of the platform.
