New Twitter proprietor Elon Musk tweeted an anti-LGBT conspiracy concept Sunday about what occurred the night time US Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was attacked, then hours later deleted the submit.
The seesaw motion by Musk, a self-declared “free speech absolutist,” solid new uncertainty on the route the social media platform will take below his new possession. It additionally underscored the large megaphone Musk now has at his disposal.
Musk early Sunday tweeted a response to Hillary Clinton, who posted a information story in regards to the alleged attacker’s hyperlinks to the far proper.
“There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye,” Musk informed Clinton, attaching a hyperlink to the story, which is not accessible, by the conservative Santa Monica Observer.
ALSO READ: Musk deletes tweet claiming Paul Pelosi attacker was homosexual prostitute
Musk could have had second ideas in regards to the tweet as a result of round midday a message appeared, “This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author.” By then, Musk’s tweet had been appreciated 110 000 occasions, the net Semafor information web site stated.
The tweet was not seen Sunday afternoon on Musk’s feed.
The weekly outlet cited by Musk in his tweet has revealed different conspiracy theories prior to now, together with {that a} physique double for Clinton was despatched to a debate with Donald Trump throughout the 2016 election marketing campaign, in accordance to the Los Angeles Times.
Musk’s Sunday tweet swiftly turned a focus for critics who’ve been nervous in regards to the route by which he intends to take Twitter, the main social media platform for international discourse and diplomacy.
Twitter’s communications division didn’t reply to an AFP request for remark in regards to the tweet and whether or not Musk himself deleted it.
ALSO READ: Musk tweets ‘conspiracy theory’ about VIOLENT Pelosi assault
Musk, whose outspoken and controversial tweets have courted bother prior to now, has vowed to dial again content material moderation, relying extra on pc algorithms than human displays. Conservatives say previous moderation has unfairly focused their views.
In a message meant to reassure jittery Twitter advertisers on his management, Musk stated late final week that he realizes Twitter “cannot become a free-for-all hellscape where anything can be said with no consequences.”
But detractors warn that with out requirements, the world’s “digital town square” is vulnerable to changing into flooded with misinformation, with presumably perilous penalties for democracy and public well being.
“Clinton: Conspiracy theories are getting people killed and we shouldn’t amplify them. Owner of Twitter: But have you considered this conspiracy theory?”
wrote University of Denver political scientist Seth Masket after Musk’s Sunday tweet.
The former UN particular rapporteur for freedom of expression, David Kaye, poked enjoyable on the a number of hats Musk appears to need to put on. He wrote on Twitter: “troll elon should report this takedown to chief twit elon.”
ALSO READ: Trolls bombard Twitter with SLURS to ‘test’ Musk
Troll marketing campaign checks Musk
Nancy Pelosi, who’s second in line to the US presidency, has stated her household is “heartbroken and traumatized” after the intruder broke into the couple’s San Francisco residence early Friday and attacked Paul Pelosi with a hammer, fracturing his cranium.
The 82-year-old is recovering in hospital.
President Joe Biden has stated it seems the assault was “intended for Nancy,” and referred to as out more and more polarizing political rhetoric.
“The Republican Party and its mouthpieces now regularly spread hate and deranged conspiracy theories. It is shocking, but not surprising, that violence is the result,”
Clinton stated in her tweet.
Musk’s response got here simply hours after Twitter stated the location was being focused by a trolling marketing campaign testing its moderation insurance policies below the billionaire entrepreneur’s management.
ALSO READ: Twitter proprietor warned that Twitter should abide by ‘EU rules’
“Twitter’s policies haven’t changed…. And we’re taking steps to put a stop to an organized effort to make people think we have,”
tweeted the platform’s chief of security and integrity, Yoel Roth.
Roth stated a “small number of accounts” had posted “a ton” of hate content material — together with 50 000 tweets utilizing a specific slur made by simply 300 accounts.
“Nearly all” of the accounts are inauthentic, he stated.
Roth additionally retweeted a Musk submit by which the Tesla chief reiterated that “we have not yet made any changes to Twitter’s content moderation policies.”
© Agence France-Presse
