UN human rights chief Volker Türk criticized Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk in an open letter and warned that the global platform must be operated responsibly. Reports that nearly every human rights and ethics expert on Twitter was fired this week “are not an encouraging start” to the Musk era on Twitter, High Commissioner Türk wrote yesterday.
“Twitter is part of a global revolution that has revolutionized the way we communicate. But I write with concern and unease about our digital audience and the role Twitter plays in it,” says Türk.
Under Musk’s leadership, human rights must play a central role in the company, demanded the Austrian UN diplomat. Twitter must continue to take responsibility for fighting disinformation and hate speech. Türk recalled that internet hatred and false information about vaccines against CoV have already caused concrete damage. At the same time, Twitter must also protect the freedom of expression of governments that want to restrict that right, he wrote.
conflicting signals
Musk’s conflicting signals over Twitter’s direction have spooked big advertisers like Volkswagen, drugmaker Pfizer and food giant Mondelez, who don’t want their ads to appear alongside negative content. On the one hand, the billionaire emphasized that the rules regarding the platform’s content still apply. On the other hand, he has repeatedly criticized the lack of freedom of expression on Twitter.
Ex-boss apologizes
More recently, about half of Twitter’s 7,500 employees were laid off, just a week after Musk took over. Co-founder and former Twitter boss Jack Dorsey apologized to employees. “I realize a lot of people are mad at me,” Dorsey wrote on Twitter. He is responsible for the fact that Twitter employees are now in this situation: “I let the company grow too fast. I’m sorry about that.”
People on Twitter past and present are strong and resilient. They will always find a way, no matter how difficult the moment. I realize that many are angry with me. I take responsibility for why everyone is in this situation: I grew the size of the company very quickly. I’m sorry for this.
— jack (@jack) November 5, 2022
People on Twitter are “strong and resilient,” Dorsey wrote. They would find a way, even if the situation might be difficult at the moment. Dorsey co-founded the company in 2006 and stepped down as CEO last year. In the spring, he also withdrew from the supervisory board.