Activists are worried that the Elon Musk era of Twitter will turn the social platform into a "megaphone to extremists", in light of Musk's possible content moderation approaches and his absolutist stance on free speech.
Composed of 26 organizations led by Accountable Tech and Media Matters, the activists urged Twitter's top advertisers to adhere to a set of "non-negotiable" standards on content moderation, published in a letter released on Tuesday.
"Toxified Information Ecosystem"
The organizations claimed in the letter that Musk's acquisition of the bird app "will further toxify" the information ecosystem of Twitter which could threaten public safety, particularly the "most vulnerable and marginalized."
"Twitter has outsized influence in shaping both public discourse and industrywide platform governance standards. While the company is hardly a posterchild for healthy social media, it has taken welcome steps in recent years to mitigate systemic risks," according to the letter.
Among those welcoming steps mentioned by the activists are the strict fact-checking mandates of Twitter, banning users who spread misinformation or incite hate and violence, and its recent climate commitments as well.
Activists called on the advertisers to ensure that these steps were not compromised in the era of Musk's takeover.
Three Non-Negotiables
The first non-negotiable standard that the activists presented is "keeping accounts including those of figures and politicians" to remain banned after violating Twitter Rules. One notable figure implied in this case is former President Donald Trump.
They cited Musk's statements at Ted2022, saying that it indicates how he will "roll-back permanent bans" and allow "harmful content" for the sake of free speech.
Secondly, they urged advertisers to ensure "algorithmic accountability" and preserve personal privacy. Lastly, they also called for Twitter's commitment to transparency and open research access.
Researchers recently raised concerns on the future of data access on Twitter, especially if their studies are critical of the platform.
Elon Musk Hits Back
The activists were quick to draw the attention of the Twitter owner himself, when Musk posted on the platform that he wanted to investigate the brands that he alleges are "funding" the signatory organizations.
Now that Twitter is privately owned, Musk is pushing for free information and free speech campaign on social media. But the social media giant reminded the public that Musk's campaign would not be toxic or harmful for everyone.
Musk has shown since his induction as the stakeholder of the platform, that he is critical of Twitter's moderation policies and believes that free speech for everyone is the "bedrock of a functioning democracy."
However, the billionaire still assured that changes on the bird app will still be grounded under the principles of the law.
But activists implored brands to be more aware of their support for Twitter, they wrote "as top advertisers on Twitter, your brand risks association with a platform amplifying hate, extremism, health misinformation, and conspiracy theorists. "
"Your ad dollars can either fund Musk's vanity project or hold him to account. We call on you to demand Musk uphold these basic standards of community trust and safety, and to pull your advertising spending from Twitter if they are not, " the organizations added.
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla
