Under Musk Fear Twitter's Moderation Progress Could Unravel

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Musk has declared himself a "free-speech absolutist" and has stated that he opposes most efforts to ban or moderate content on Twitter that go beyond what the law does to regulate speech, even though Twitter has devoted attention to curbing hate speech, harassment and misinformation on the platform.

Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 10:33 AM | 46 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Experts warn that a move away from moderation could make Twitter a more inhospitable place. . . .

"I would posit to you that rape threats, death threats, doxxing--this is just not part of a healthy American conversation about where we need to go," Wu said. "So I really worry that rather than heal these vast rifts in the American discourse, I think it's going to make them even worse."

Conner said that less moderation on the platform and more harassment and hate speech could have a chilling effect on people using Twitter, ultimately hurting free expression. "The rules are not just things to suppress speech but to allow speech from as many users as possible," he said.

"Elon Musk will have to learn the hard way what everyone who has run Twitter has learned," Conner said. "An unmoderated space is not one that functions for long."

#1 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2022-04-26 09:17 PM | Reply

Just tweet "---- elon musk" every day and you'll see some moderation pretty quickly.

#2 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2022-04-26 09:19 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#2
Excellent idea!

#3 | Posted by Danforth at 2022-04-26 09:24 PM | Reply

#2 Right? One expert interviewed for the article thought this could happen:

She said one possibility is that Twitter develops a "friends of Elon" culture that's defined by Musk's personal relationships and whims.

"We can expect more of that if you have all of the power housed with one person," Klonick said.

#4 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2022-04-26 09:24 PM | Reply

Mr Musk has shown on his own Twitter account that he seems to have little tolerance for those who disagree with him.

Will that carry over to Twitter in general should his purchase agreement come to fruition?

No one knows at this point.

But, keep in mind, it is still not a sure deal.

For starters, Mr Musk needs to come up with a bunch (billions) of money. He currently does not have billions of free cash.

The significant majority of his wealth is currently in Tesla stock. So, will he need to sell some of his Tesla shares in order to complete the deal?

Tesla shareholders seemed to be concerned about that. Tesla shares dropped more than 12% today.

On the other hand, Mr Musk faces a $1B charge if the deal does not go through.

Interesting stuff...

#5 | Posted by LampLighter at 2022-04-26 09:33 PM | Reply

Moderation? There are so many spam bits on Twitter which could be uncovered and banned via simple SQL queries - if Twitter cared about anything other than DAU and post metrics for public investors. Twitter has a half baked organization for the last 10 years.

#6 | Posted by GOnoles92 at 2022-04-27 12:15 AM | Reply

Since when did "free speech" equal freedom to spread lies?

#7 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2022-04-27 10:37 AM | Reply

"Since when did "free speech" equal freedom to spread lies?"

Uh...since always.

Especially with a private company.

#8 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 10:43 AM | Reply

Bernie has been spreading lies for years.

Are you complaining?

#9 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 10:43 AM | Reply

Bernie? WTF are you talking about, clown-boy?

#10 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2022-04-27 10:58 AM | Reply

Yeah...that whole thing that less rich people would be richer if it weren't for richer people.

Pretty much --------.

I mean, not that you're even remotely smart enough to figure it out. But true nonetheless.

#11 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 11:02 AM | Reply

Just seeing the left freak out about this is all you need to know.

#12 | Posted by fishpaw at 2022-04-27 11:03 AM | Reply

And do you think Twitter should offer authoritarians a platform? Because Bernie is about as authoritarian as any politician ever has been. Well, maybe less than Trump. By just a bit.

#13 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 11:04 AM | Reply

" Yeah...that whole thing that less rich people would be richer if it weren't for richer people. Pretty much --------."

Um ... it's the equation.

It's no mistake money funnels upward; the system supports and encourages as much. One only needs to look at GRATs, carried interest, inheritance rules, and the ability of a superpower to manipulate futures markets for ample proof.

#14 | Posted by Danforth at 2022-04-27 11:11 AM | Reply

Twitter will become the new 8Chan, full of Nazis, child pornographers, and other scum of the earth. Somebody will come up with a new Twitter under a different brand. Musk just spent $44 billion for a platform that will become as popular as Truth Social because the sane will ditch it as soon as it becomes the unregulated cesspool Musk wants it to be.

#15 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2022-04-27 11:40 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

The left is melting down at the thought of Twitter treating its users equally.

#16 | Posted by BellRinger at 2022-04-27 11:43 AM | Reply

The left is melting down at the thought of ------- using Twitter to succeed with his insurrection.

#16 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

FTFY, liar.

#17 | Posted by truthhurts at 2022-04-27 11:47 AM | Reply

If righties didn't have projection they wouldn't have anything.

I for one am not freaking out about anything. I only use Twitter as a breaking news source generally and there are many other options available.

Strange, I've yet to see one rightie even notice that RCade has replaced Tweets with Facebook subheadings. Change happens, it's a part of life. If Twitter becomes unbearable or undesirable, some will find other platforms or create alternatives. It's called the marketplace fellows.

If people can't relate, they innovate.

#18 | Posted by tonyroma at 2022-04-27 11:49 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#16

Sounding pretty jiggy there, pal.

#19 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2022-04-27 11:51 AM | Reply

Per the merger agreement, Musk cannot in the interim tweet in a manner that disparages Twitter or its executives. He has arguably already crossed that line repeatedly. I've seen speculation that he's basically begging twitter to find him in breach and cancel the agreement because he realizes how stupid the entire deal is.

#20 | Posted by JOE at 2022-04-27 11:56 AM | Reply

"It's no mistake money funnels upward; the system supports and encourages as much."

I don't understand your assertion.

A teenager making $7.25 an hour would be earning how much more if billionaires weren't permitted to exist?

#21 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 11:57 AM | Reply

The left is melting down at the thought of Twitter treating its users equally.

#16 | Posted by BellRinger

The right thinks people who used twitter to attempt a fascist coup to overthrow democracy deserve equal treatment with those who didn't.

#22 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-04-27 12:02 PM | Reply

" I don't understand your assertion."

I'm quite aware of that fact.

Try understanding the four cornerstones I laid out.

#23 | Posted by Danforth at 2022-04-27 12:22 PM | Reply

" A teenager making $7.25 an hour would be earning how much more if billionaires weren't permitted to exist?"

Those aren't the suggested parameters. A fairer, more progressive tax code would be a good start. And what would 7.25 be today if indexed to inflation between then and now? ( And please don't trot out your usual cherry-picking from the depression.) From the date of 7.25s inception to today.

There's your answer, such as it is.

#24 | Posted by Danforth at 2022-04-27 12:31 PM | Reply

#22, so reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop is a coup?

#25 | Posted by BellRinger at 2022-04-27 12:37 PM | Reply

#24

So, would it be fair to say that billionaires earned the same amount as they currently do, but laws forced them to transfer their earnings to lower income earners, that's how lower income earners would earn more?

#26 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 12:42 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

"A fairer, more progressive tax code would be a good start."

Doesn't the US already have the most progressive tax code on the planet? Or at least with regards to western countries?

Is there some other country you feel is doing a better job IRT taxation?

#27 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 12:44 PM | Reply

#22, so reporting on the contents of Hunter Biden's abandoned laptop is a coup?

#25 | Posted by BellRinger

Attempting a coup, which is what your cult did and is still doing, is attemping a coup.

Hunter biden's laptop is just the next obama's birth certificate. Too bad you had to change your username so we can't go back and read your posts about that "scandal".

#28 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-04-27 12:51 PM | Reply

Doesn't the US already have the most progressive tax code on the planet?

Interesting but somewhat dated article on the subject that provides a bit more nuance:
www.cbpp.org

#29 | Posted by JOE at 2022-04-27 12:53 PM | Reply

From the article:

The 2008 OECD report found that U.S. tax system was the most progressive among the OECD countries studied. This finding mostly reflects the structure of the U.S. tax system " for instance, its graduated rates and refundable tax credits for low- and moderate-income people.

#30 | Posted by madbomber at 2022-04-27 01:00 PM | Reply

" Hunter biden's laptop is just the next obama's birth certificate"

Better tell Politico, NYT and WaPo.

Per usual, way to not only move the goalposts but try to change the subject.

I'll quote one of your all time favorite people - let's circle back to my question. Was reporting on Hunter Biden's laptop contents an insurrection act?

#31 | Posted by BellRinger at 2022-04-27 01:03 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

" left is melting down at the thought of Twitter treating its users equally."

Most [eople I know don't give a crap about whay yhe idiots on Twitter. Only 22% of American aduits bother going on Twitter.So go head troll and make up lies and repeat Russian talking points yo your heart's conteny.

#32 | Posted by danni at 2022-04-27 01:05 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

" Was reporting on Hunter Biden's laptop contents an insurrection act?"

Depends on who's doing the reporting, doesn't it?

You sure weren't keen when it was Lev Parnas reporting he'd discussed the laptop with Rudy a year before it turned up in the Delaware repair shop.

What's your official response to that fact?

#33 | Posted by Danforth at 2022-04-27 01:08 PM | Reply

Per usual, way to not only move the goalposts but try to change the subject.

I'll quote one of your all time favorite people - let's circle back to my question. Was reporting on Hunter Biden's laptop contents an insurrection act?

#31 | Posted by BellRinger

yeah whatever you do, let's not discuss the credibility or track record of the people crying about hunter biden's laptop.

Hunter biden's laptop is just some black box that is just out of your reach that will prove...something. All your cult ever needs is a hint that something COULD be scandalous. That's why trump wanted zelinksky to announce an investigation. It didn't even have to be real. The ANNOUNCEMENT was all trump needed to get you chumps foaming at the mouth and concluding SOMETHING must be there, so trump could win his election.

If you were posting about A THOUSAND TIMES more posts about kushner and his corruption and using his father to enrich himself with corruption, since he made about A THOUSAND TIMES more money than hunter biden, maybe you'd have some credibilty as a corruption hunter. But the fact that you want to focus on hunter biden and never mention kushner proves you dont give a damn about corruption at all. Hunter wasn't even in the administration. Kusher was, and used it to sell american foreign policy and dig his family out of a huge financial hole.

#34 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-04-27 01:11 PM | Reply

Twitter hasn't censored the sharing of stories about Jared Kushner. They blocked and censored the Hunter laptop story. So, once again, was reporting about Hunters laptop insurrectionist? You are avoiding that question like the plague and at this point I anticipate you won't answer it.

#35 | Posted by BellRinger at 2022-04-27 01:16 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

Yes, that's my feeling as well.

I for one am not freaking out about anything. I only use Twitter as a breaking news source generally and there are many other options available.
Strange, I've yet to see one rightie even notice that RCade has replaced Tweets with Facebook subheadings. Change happens, it's a part of life. If Twitter becomes unbearable or undesirable, some will find other platforms or create alternatives. It's called the marketplace fellows.
If people can't relate, they innovate.
#18 | POSTED BY TONYROMA

Like you, I only read Twitter and don't post there. If the place becomes an unmoderated, abusive ---------, the people I read will likely leave and I'll follow them wherever they go. Hadn't noticed that about RCade replacing the Tweets; good observation.

#36 | Posted by Gal_Tuesday at 2022-04-27 01:19 PM | Reply

#30 Did you bother reading the rest of the article?

#37 | Posted by JOE at 2022-04-27 01:20 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

#35 | Posted by BellRinger

That's because the people talking about the kushner scandal don't have a proven track record of lying a la obama's birth certificate, election "fraud", bengazi, etc etc etc.

Don't cry that all the lies you've told have finally made people stop taking you seriously.

Go read The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Even children understand this concept.

#38 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2022-04-27 01:35 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

" Doesn't the US already have the most progressive tax code on the planet?"

Oh, God, no. Who TF told you as much?

And have you investigated the four aspects, or are you going to continue throwing darts blindfolded?

#39 | Posted by Danforth at 2022-04-27 02:57 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

#29 | Posted by JOE

Great article, I wish it was about 10 years newer.

#40 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2022-04-27 06:10 PM | Reply

@speaksoftly the right didn't attempt a "coup," the right simply showed up, raised some Hell and decided to smear --- on the walls after the god awful behavior from the left during the summer of 2020. Anyways, hopefully the Left learned their lesson. Rather than burning down cities, destroying innocent business owners livelihoods ... the Right simply took the Amber Heard approach and --- in the guberment's proverbial bed. The only reason it bugs the Left so much because it's straight out of the Left's playbook and yet they never thought to do it.

#41 | Posted by Reginald at 2022-04-28 03:59 AM | Reply

Moderating free speech is not 'progress' unless you are an authoritarian fascist....which describes the modern left well. You have becomes the people you hated in the 1980's and 1990's. Congrats. You old leftists are the worst hypocrites. At least the young & dumb leftists never espoused love for freedom - you old leftists losers did. The young & dumb leftists are just baby Hitlers...you old ones have morphed into Hitler.

#42 | Posted by RayTraylor at 2022-04-29 02:24 AM | Reply

You don't have free speech on a private platform. Full stop.

#43 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2022-04-29 09:52 AM | Reply

It's a private company, they can do what they want. Don't Luke it? Make your own platform.

Lol

#44 | Posted by LEGALLYDORKY at 2022-04-29 10:06 AM | Reply

*like

#45 | Posted by LEGALLYDORKY at 2022-04-29 10:06 AM | Reply

Learn to Code

#46 | Posted by Mao_Content at 2022-04-29 10:07 AM | Reply