{"id":23982,"date":"2022-12-16T12:46:37","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T12:46:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/16\/twitter-suspends-journalists-who-wrote-about-owner-elon-musk\/"},"modified":"2022-12-16T12:46:37","modified_gmt":"2022-12-16T12:46:37","slug":"twitter-suspends-journalists-who-wrote-about-owner-elon-musk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/16\/twitter-suspends-journalists-who-wrote-about-owner-elon-musk\/","title":{"rendered":"Twitter suspends journalists who wrote about owner Elon Musk"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Twitter suspended the accounts of several journalists who cover the social media platform, the latest battle over what can and cannot be said on the site since billionaire Elon Musk<\/a> took control of it.<\/p>\n

Accounts of reporters with The New York Times, Washington Post, CNN, Voice of America and other publications, went dark Thursday. <\/p>\n

The company hasn\u2019t explained to the journalists why it took down the accounts and made their profiles and past tweets disappear. But Musk took to Twitter<\/a> on Thursday night to accuse journalists of sharing private information about his whereabouts that he described as \u201cbasically assassination coordinates.\u201d He provided no evidence for that claim.<\/p>\n

The sudden suspension of news reporters followed Musk\u2019s decision Wednesday to permanently ban an account that automatically tracked the flights of his private jet using publicly available data. That also led Twitter to change its rules for all users to prohibit the sharing of another person\u2019s current location without their consent.<\/p>\n

Several of the reporters suspended Thursday night had been writing about the new policy and Musk’s rationale for imposing it, which involved his allegations about a stalking incident he said affected his family on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

The official account for Mastodon, a decentralized social network billed as an alternative to Twitter, was also banned. The reason was unclear, though it had tweeted about the jet tracking account. <\/p>\n

\u201cSame doxxing rules apply to \u2018journalists\u2019 as to everyone else,” Musk tweeted Thursday. He later added: \u201cCriticizing me all day long is totally fine, but doxxing my real-time location and endangering my family is not.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoxxing\u201d refers to disclosing online someone\u2019s identity, address, or other personal details.<\/p>\n

The Washington Post\u2019s executive editor, Sally Buzbee, called for technology reporter Drew Harwell\u2019s Twitter account to be reinstated immediately. The suspension \u201cdirectly undermines Elon Musk\u2019s claim that he intends to run Twitter as a platform dedicated to free speech,\u201d Buzbee wrote. \u201cHarwell was banished without warning, process or explanation, following the publication of his accurate reporting about Musk.\u201d<\/p>\n

CNN said in a statement that \u201cthe impulsive and unjustified suspension of a number of reporters, including CNN\u2019s Donie O\u2019Sullivan, is concerning but not surprising.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwitter\u2019s increasing instability and volatility should be of incredible concern for everyone who uses Twitter,\u201d CNN’s statement added. \u201cWe have asked Twitter for an explanation, and we will reevaluate our relationship based on that response.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another suspended journalist, Matt Binder of the technology news outlet Mashable, said he was banned Thursday night immediately after sharing a screenshot that O\u2019Sullivan had posted before his own suspension. <\/p>\n

The screenshot showed a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department sent earlier Thursday to multiple media outlets, including The Associated Press, about how it was in touch with Musk’s representatives about the alleged stalking incident, but that no crime report had yet been filed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI did not share any location data, as per Twitter\u2019s new terms. Nor did I share any links to ElonJet or other location tracking accounts,\u201d Binder said in an email. \u201cI have been highly critical of Musk but never broke any of Twitter\u2019s listed policies.\u201d<\/p>\n

Binder said a message he received while trying to access his Twitter account showed that his suspension was permanent. But Musk later suggested the penalty would last a week in response to a question about his suspension of former ESPN and MSNBC host Keith Olbermann.<\/p>\n

Late Thursday, Musk briefly joined a Twitter Spaces conference chat hosted by journalist Kate Notopoulos of Buzzfeed. He reiterated his claims that the journalists Twitter banned were \u201cdoxxing” him when they were reporting on the jet tracking accounts being banned. <\/p>\n

\u201cThere is not special treatment for journalists,\u201d Musk said, after being asked by the Post\u2019s Drew Harwell if he had a connection between the stalking incident and posting of real-time information. <\/p>\n

\u201cYou dox, you get suspended, end of story,\u201d he added, before abruptly signing out. The Spaces ended abruptly shortly after 9 p.m. Pacific time. <\/p>\n

\u201cSorry it appears the Space cut out, screen went suddenly blank on my end and everyone got booted,\u201d host Notopoulos tweeted at 9:14 p.m. Pacific. <\/p>\n

Another suspended reporter, Steve Herman of Voice of America, said he assumes he was banned \u201cbecause I was tweeting about other journalists being suspended for tweeting about accounts being booted that had linked to the Elon Jet feed.\u201d <\/p>\n

The suspensions come as Musk makes major changes to content moderation on Twitter. He has tried, through the release of selected company documents dubbed as \u201cThe Twitter Files,\u201d to claim the platform suppressed right-wing voices under its previous leaders. <\/p>\n

He has promised to let free speech reign and has reinstated high-profile accounts that previously broke Twitter’s rules against hateful conduct or harmful misinformation, but also has said he would suppress negativity and hate by depriving some accounts of \u201cfreedom of reach.\u201d<\/p>\n

The nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists, which defends journalists around the world, said Thursday night it was concerned about the suspensions.<\/p>\n

“If confirmed as retaliation for their work, this would be a serious violation of journalists\u2019 right to report the news without fear of reprisal,\u201d the group said.<\/p>\n

European Union Commissioner Vera Jourova, who heads up the 27-nation bloc\u2019s work on values and transparency, also weighed in.<\/p>\n

\u201cNews about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying,\u201d she tweeted. Existing EU media rules and new digital regulations taking effect next year require \u201crespect of media freedom and fundamental rights.”<\/p>\n

Jourova said, \u201c@elonmusk should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon.\u201d <\/p>\n

The Germany government added more criticism. The Foreign Ministry tweeted that it’s \u201cgot a problem\u201d with not being able to follow the suspended accounts and added that \u201cpress freedom must not be switched on and off at will.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spokesman Christofer Burger said the ministry opened an account on Mastodon \u201cto ensure we remain reachable.” <\/p>\n

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Associated Press writers Kelvin Chan in London and Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n