Elon Musk has solely been in management of Twitter for a short while, however he’s already making large strikes. Musk fired various key executives on day one, together with Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, however in a brand new tweet he claims he’ll be transferring extra slowly in relation to making content material moderation selections.
Musk hasn’t mentioned a lot since taking on at Twitter, however he’ll apparently type some sort of coverage advisory physique to supervise content material moderation selections. Musk mentioned the group will mirror “diverse viewpoints,” although we’ll actually have to attend and see on that one.
Importantly, Musk says he received’t be making any main selections or account reinstatements — i.e. restoring former President Donald Trump — earlier than the council is put in place. Because it’s Musk, which may occur inside hours or it may not occur in any respect, it’s laborious to say.
On Thursday, Musk additionally let go of Vijaya Gadde, a well-respected high coverage government on the firm who helped navigate advanced authorized and moderation points for greater than 11 years. Getting rid of Gadde was a sign {that a} new period with totally different choice making is starting, for higher or worse.
The tweet is probably going extra balm for skittish advertisers cautious of Musk instantly turning the platform into an anything-goes mess of harassment, hate and misinformation. While Twitter arguably already meets that description with present ranges of moderation in place, advertisers are expecting any main shifts within the sort of content material allowed on the platform and the way it would possibly adversely have an effect on their manufacturers.
Musk would possibly suppose that is an authentic concept, however Twitter already consults a belief and security council to advise its product and coverage selections. The council — it’s already referred to as a council — consisted initially of 40 organizations and consultants that suggested it in difficult coverage areas. That group served in additional of an advisory capability, and in contrast to with Meta’s Oversight Board, it wasn’t designed to create binding selections.
First introduced in 2016, Twitter expanded the entity in 2020 to type teams devoted to particular tough matters, together with security and on-line harassment, digital rights, youngster sexual exploitation and suicide prevention. “A lot of what we currently do, such as ongoing meetings with NGOs, activists and other organizations is always part of our process, but we haven’t done enough to share that externally,” Twitter wrote on the time.
It’s potential Musk has one thing extra just like the Oversight Board in thoughts in relation to content material moderation choice making, however every thing from the individuals who wind up serving on a hypothetical council to the character of the group’s affect is prone to be controversial.
