Musk threatens to sue researchers who documented the rise in hateful tweets
David Klepper, Aug 01 2023
MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP
Elon Musk, pictured introducing the Model X car at Tesla’s's headquarters, recently rebranded Twitter as X.
X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased last year by Elon Musk.
An attorney representing the social media site wrote to the Centre for Countering Digital Hate on July 20 threatening legal action over the nonprofit's research into hate speech and content moderation. The letter alleged that CCDH's research publications seem intended “to harm Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims.”
Musk is a self-professed free speech absolutist who has welcomed back white supremacists and election deniers to the platform, which he renamed X earlier this month. But the billionaire has at times proven sensitive about critical speech directed at him or his companies.
The centre is a nonprofit with offices in the US and United Kingdom. It regularly publishes reports on hate speech, extremism or harmful behaviour on social media platforms like X, TikTok or Facebook.
The organisation has published several reports critical of Musk's leadership, detailing an increase in anti-LGBTQ hate speech as well as climate misinformation since his purchase. The letter from X's attorney cited one specific report from June that found the platform failed to remove neo-Nazi and anti-LGBTQ content from verified users that violated the platform’s rules.
In the letter, attorney Alex Spiro questioned the expertise of the researchers and accused the centre of trying to harm X's reputation. The letter also suggested, without evidence, that the centre received funds from some of X's competitors, even though the centre has also published critical reports about TikTok, Facebook and other large platforms.
“CCDH intends to harm Twitter’s business by driving advertisers away from the platform with incendiary claims,” Spiro wrote, using the platform's former name.
HAVEN DALEY/AP
A large, metal "X" sign is seen on top of the downtown building that housed what was once Twitter, now rebranded by its owner, Elon Musk, in San Francisco.
Imran Ahmed, the centre's founder and CEO, told the AP on Monday that his group has never received a similar response from any tech company, despite a history of studying the relationship between social media, hate speech and extremism. He said that typically, the targets of the centre's' criticism have responded by defending their work or promising to address any problems that have been identified.
Ahmed said he worried X’s response to the centre's' work could have a chilling effect if it frightens other researchers away from studying the platform. He said he also worried that other industries could take note of the strategy.
“This is an unprecedented escalation by a social media company against independent researchers. Musk has just declared open war,” Ahmed told the Associated Press. “If Musk succeeds in silencing us other researchers will be next in line.”
Messages left with Spiro and X were not immediately returned Monday.
It's not the first time that Musk has fired back at critics. Last year, he suspended the accounts of several journalists who covered his takeover of Twitter. Another user was permanently banned for using publicly available flight data to track Musk's private plane; Musk had initially pledged to keep the user on the platform but later changed his mind, citing his personal safety. He also threatened to sue the user.
He initially had promised that he would allow any speech on his platform that wasn't illegal. “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means,” Musk wrote in a tweet last year.
X's recent threat of a lawsuit prompted concern from U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who said the billionaire was trying to use the threat of legal action to punish a nonprofit group trying to hold a powerful social media platform accountable.
“Instead of attacking them, he should be attacking the increasingly disturbing content on Twitter,” Schiff said in a statement.
Twitter HQ neighbours complain of new flashing ‘X’ sign on roof
San Francisco’s department of building inspection has been denied access to assess the strobing light described as ‘flash of lightning’
The illuminated X logo has been installed on the roof of the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco CREDIT: CARLOS BARRIA/REUTERSElon Musk has riled up the neighbours of Twitter’s San Francisco headquarters after installing an enormous, flashing X on the roof as part of the company’s rebrand.
City officials are investigating the fixture which was erected last week after the billionaire overhauled the social media app to replace the decade-old blue bird logo with an X.
Those living nearby complained about the pulsing white light, which particularly impacts those in high-rise buildings opposite the HQ.
San Francisco’s department of building inspection has twice attempted to inspect the logo, on Friday and again on Saturday, but were denied access by staff who said the sign was temporary, according to the city’s building complaints tracker.
Neighbours disturbed by the new addition include Christopher Beale, who told CBS News “it’s hard to describe how bright it made the intersection”.
He said the strobing light is “like a flash of lightning going off” and said he could not watch a film in the room which faces the building even with the curtains drawn.
Patricia Wallinga, who also lives across the street from the sign, said she thought the lights were “lightning” or a “police siren”.
“I was very confused,” she said.
“This building, it’s largely rent controlled. There are a lot of seniors who live there, I’m sure, I’m absolutely sure that this is a danger especially to them. It’s such a clown show.”
It came after police stopped workers removing the old logo from the side of the building, saying they had not taped off the footpath to keep pedestrians safe.
Replacement letters and symbols require a permit to ensure “consistency with the historic nature of the building”, Patrick Hannan, the spokesman for the department of building inspection, said earlier this week.
He said: “Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The city is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation.”
X to remain in San Francisco
The building was subject to a separate investigation in December over concerns Mr Musk had built bedrooms for workers.
The rebranding is the latest major change since he bought Twitter in October last year for $44 billion (£34.3 billion).
A 2011 lease specifically bans rooftop and exterior signs, apart from the “blade sign” that previously said “@twitter “, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Mr Musk said the company would remain in San Francisco despite offers to move elsewhere.
“Many have offered rich incentives for X (formerly known as Twitter) to move its HQ out of San Francisco”, he wrote on X.
“Moreover, the city is in a doom spiral with one company after another left or leaving. Therefore, they expect X will move too. We will not. You only know who your real friends are when the chips are down. San Francisco, beautiful San Francisco, though others forsake you, we will always be your friend,” he added
The Telegraph has contacted Twitter for comment.
Elon Musk takes a U-turn on Twitter's (now X) permanent dark mode
Elon Musk has backtracked on his previous decision of having a permanent dark mode for Twitter (now X). The billionaire previously announced that the microblogging platform will only offer support for dark mode in the future.
"This platform will soon only have “dark mode”. It is better in every way," Musk wrote in response to a user post asking whether the verification checkmark would look good in dark mode. For reference, Twitter's dark mode is called Lights Out.
It wasn't long before the X owner took to his official handle and announced that the light theme is here to stay. Musk said that the dark mode will be the default option on the platform but the option to dim the brightness, which makes the background appear dark blue in color, will be kicked out.
"A lot of people have asked to keep light mode, so we will, but the default will be dark and dim will be deleted," he said while responding to another user. While there were lovers of dark mode, many X users came forward to oppose Musk's decision to pull the plug on the light theme.
If you consider a11y, when a platform in its core contains text and media - readers deserve to select their preferred mode. There is a reason it's a manual toggle (or a time-based toggle).
— Rahul Chakraborty (@hckmstrrahul) July 27, 2023
Please dont design such things on personal preferences - unless you keep that setting…
Aesthetics aside, the dark mode setting can be helpful when using a device at night or in places with less light. It can be easier on the eyes of the users when compared to a traditional setting where black text is displayed on a white background. However, dark mode may cause trouble or discomfort to people with astigmatism and dyslexia.
You can change the theme on the Twitter website by clicking on the More button > Settings and Support > Display. It should be noted that existing theme options Default, Dim, and Lights Out were available at the time of writing.
All of this comes after Musk kicked off the rebranding of Twitter to X earlier this week. While the company is already known as X Corp on paper, recent developments saw the demise of the iconic bird logo and a new X.com domain coming into place.
The company also changed its official handle to @X which was taken away from the original owner Gene X Hwang. However, Twitter's rebranding may have some complications as Meta and Microsoft own the "X" trademark for social media and video games respectively.
The new logo appears quite similar to the one used for Xbox and it has taken the bird's place on the app's Android and web version. But curious minds have figured out a way to replace X with the old Twitter logo
Via: Gizmodo
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