Elon Musk’s Controversial Actions
Many people, including Twitter employees, have reacted with shock and dismay to the news of Elon Musk buying the social media network. For those unfamiliar with Musk beyond his ventures in electric cars and space exploration, understanding why his acquisition is concerning requires a look at his past behavior.
Online Controversies
Musk has used his online presence for several controversial actions:
- In March 2020, he called people worried about the coronavirus “dumb.”
- On March 19, 2020, he predicted that the U.S. would have “close to zero new cases” by the end of April.
- He questioned the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and claimed there were “quite a few negative reactions” to getting a second shot.
- Musk compared Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Hitler.
- He criticized government subsidies for companies despite receiving billions in subsidies himself.
- Musk engaged in securities fraud using Twitter.
- He tweeted, “Pronouns suck.”
- Musk posted misogynistic comments directed at Senator Elizabeth Warren over tax issues.
- He told Bernie Sanders, who advocates for higher taxes on the rich, “I keep forgetting that you’re still alive.”
- Musk tweeted sexist jokes and derogatory comments about Bill Gates.
- In 2018, he suggested Tesla workers could lose stock options if they unionized.
- Musk baselessly accused a British cave diver involved in a rescue mission of being a “pedo guy.”
Offline Controversies
Musk’s offline actions have also been troubling:
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- He reopened a Tesla factory against public health orders, resulting in 450 COVID-19 cases.
- Tesla was ordered to pay nearly $137 million to a former Black employee who faced racial discrimination at work. The company downplayed these allegations.
- A female worker described rampant sexual harassment at Tesla, calling conditions “nightmarish.”
- Tesla employees labeled the company as a “modern-day sweatshop,” though Tesla claimed compliance with California laws.
- Musk tried to discredit a Tesla whistleblower and allegedly fired employees who disagreed with him.
Tesla’s headquarters moved to Texas shortly after the state banned nearly all abortions. Additionally, Musk paid $50,000 to investigate the cave diver he called “pedo guy.”
The Implications for Twitter
This list of actions is concerning for someone taking over a platform as influential as Twitter. Musk has expressed that Twitter should avoid content regulation. Given his history of spreading misinformation and retaliating against critics, this stance worries those already concerned about misinformation and abuse on Twitter. Musk claims he needs to save Twitter from its current owners who he believes do not respect free speech. However, many point out that no one has a legal right to tweet on a privately owned platform like Twitter. The First Amendment protects against government restrictions on speech, not those imposed by private companies. Musk appears willing to redefine free speech on Twitter by allowing unchecked harassment or threats under its guise. This potential shift aligns with his previous behavior and raises significant concerns about the platform’s future.
