Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk blasted Twitter for "failing to adhere to free speech principles" in a Saturday afternoon tweet that quickly went viral.
Musk, the world's richest person to the tune of over $200 billion, then asked his 79.1 million Twitter followers whether a "new platform" was needed to replace the social media giant.
"Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy," the SpaceX founder wrote. "What should be done? Is a new platform needed?"
Is a new platform needed?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022
Musk's tweets followed up on a Friday survey in which, after declaring free speech to be "essential to a functioning democracy," he asked: "Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?"
Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 25, 2022
Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?
Of the more than 2 million responses, over 70% voted "no."
Musk has been in the news frequently over the past month, particularly for challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin to "single combat" with Ukraine as the stakes and providing Ukrainian resistance with his Starlink satellite internet and receivers. He also, however, declared himself a "free speech absolutist" in explaining his decision to not censor Russian state media.
Meanwhile, free speech has become a huge issue for Twitter as the social media giant continues to censor conservatives and those who go against mainstream narratives on hot-button issues like Covid-19 and gender theory.
Reaction to Musk's tweet was swift and mostly approving, including several calls for the world's richest man to do the world a service and make the purchase himself, then run Twitter with free speech as a priority.
Elon please buy it and enact a new policy to make it an ideologically neutral platform.
— Christina Pushaw ???? (@ChristinaPushaw) March 26, 2022
Buy Twitter and commit to protecting it from any intrusions.
— Gad Saad (@GadSaad) March 26, 2022
Buy twitter
— ????Col. Rob Maness ret. (@RobManess) March 26, 2022
.@ElonMusk, @Twitter is lying to users, Congress, stockholders about its censorship practices targeting conservatives. DOJ/SEC/FTC and State AGs should investigate this fraud. https://t.co/Yumb3C0HnY
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) March 26, 2022
An unchallenged or Government-tolerated monopoly (entity, syndicate, or cartel) is not simply a matter of 'private business' - it is bound by the US Constitution as if it were an extension of government. https://t.co/yoUnHLMJiP
— Ethical Skeptic ? (@EthicalSkeptic) March 26, 2022
Parag Agrawal suddenly nervous. https://t.co/D5ZrGrtTnK
— Jeff Carlson (@themarketswork) March 26, 2022
In Britain, the government has brought forward an Online Safety Bill that will impose a duty on social media platforms to “have regard” for free speech. As legal duties go, it’s pitifully weak, but the @SpeechUnion is lobbying the government to strengthen it. https://t.co/lvzFyGosoC
— Toby Young (@toadmeister) March 26, 2022
Yes, Twitter is a private company, but Musk is right. It's become the "de facto public square" when it comes to public debate, the only place everyone, from celebrities and politicians to everyday people, can exchange ideas and communicate with one another in a way not seen in human history. But sadly, of late it has also become a tool for leftist tech oligarchs to impose their twisted worldview on everyone by censoring those with whom they disagree. Musk, with his clout and especially his cash, could change that overnight. Does he have the will? We can only hope!
Not necessarily. In this case, a hostile takeover by the world's richest person could do the trick just fine.
— Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) March 26, 2022