Questions Swirl About Potential Twitter Hack Affecting 400m Accounts

Twitter has all the time been considerably chaotic, however new CEO Elon Musk is taking it to a complete new stage. He’s been making dramatic adjustments since he purchased the corporate for $44 billion on Oct. 27, together with shedding half the workers; altering moderation and verification insurance policies; and unbanning extremist accounts.

Here’s the latest information about Musk’s takeover of Twitter:

Dec. 29: Twitter faces questions on claimed hack

A European watchdog is reportedly planning to research Twitter after a hacker claimed to have stolen non-public particulars of greater than 400 million accounts. The BBC reported Thursday that Ireland’s Data Protection Commission mentioned it’ll “look at Twitter’s compliance with data-protection regulation” in relation to considerations concerning the hack, whose particulars had been circulating round Twitter for the previous few days. 

The Guardian wrote on Wednesday that information included within the hack appeared to contain accounts for mannequin Cara Delevingne, New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and pop singer Shawn Mendes.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark from CNET, nor seemingly the BBC or Guardian both.

Hey @elonmusk, since you do not appear to have a lot a media/comms group anymore, are you able to deal with the apparently respectable declare that somebody scraped & is now promoting information on a whole lot of tens of millions of Twitter accounts? Maybe it did not occur in your watch, however you owe Twitter a reply.

— briankrebs (@briankrebs) December 27, 2022

Dec. 22: Twitter lays off extra staff

Twitter is not finished gutting its workforce. Theodora Skeadas, who labored on public coverage at Twitter, tweeted that the corporate reduce half of the corporate’s public coverage group. One unnamed former worker informed CNN Twitter’s public coverage group had greater than 60 staff earlier than Musk took over. Now that group has roughly 15 staff.

Reuters additionally reported that Sinead McSweeney, Twitter’s international vp for public coverage, has left the corporate. The departures are the newest in a string of large job cuts to hit Twitter as Musk appears to chop extra prices. He’s reportedly reduce workers from greater than 7,000 to lower than 2,000. The layoffs and departure of key executives have raised questions on whether or not Twitter can survive. 

Twitter and McSweeney did not instantly reply to a request for remark. California’s Employment Development Department mentioned it is trying into whether or not Twitter filed a discover concerning the layoffs. 

Dec 20: Musk says he’ll resign as CEO

Musk tweeted he would step down as CEO as quickly as he finds “somebody silly sufficient to take the job!” He added that he’ll nonetheless stay on the firm to “run the software program & servers groups.”

The announcement got here after the vast majority of Twitter customers who voted in a ballot mentioned Musk ought to step down from the job.

Dec. 19: Twitter customers vote for Musk to step down

Roughly 17.5 million Twitter customers voted in a ballot asking if Musk ought to step down. About 57.5% of these polled voted sure and 42.5% voted no. 

Twitter customers additionally weighed in on whether or not the corporate ought to “have a coverage stopping the creation of or use of present accounts for the primary objective of promoting different social media platforms?” Roughly 87% of 326,890 customers who voted mentioned no.

Dec. 18: Twitter bans hyperlinks to rival social networks, reverses coverage after outcry

Twitter mentioned it might ban hyperlinks to various social networks reminiscent of Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post and droop accounts that attempted to direct customers to those websites. 

After person backlash, Twitter deleted the brand new coverage towards selling various social media websites and created a ballot concerning the concept.

“Going ahead, there shall be a vote for main coverage adjustments. My apologies. Won’t occur once more,” Musk tweeted.

Musk additionally created a ballot asking if he ought to step down as head of Twitter.

Dec. 17: Journalists’ accounts start reappearing

Musk tweeted that accounts suspended in relation to his dispute with @ElonJet would have their suspensions lifted, primarily based on a public ballot he’d carried out on Twitter. As of Dec. 17, @ElonJet remained suspended however some journalists’ accounts had reappeared, together with Twitter rival Mastodon’s. CNN reported on Dec. 17 that although the journalists’ accounts have been once more seen, the journalists aren’t allowed to tweet till they take away sure @ElonJet-related posts that Musk claims go towards Twitter’s guidelines (the journalists dispute Musk’s declare). 

Twitter, which now not has a communications division, did not instantly reply to a request for touch upon the CNN report. The abrupt suspensions and Musk’s conflicting remarks have made it even more durable to determine how Twitter’s content material moderation works — extra on that right here.

Dec. 15: Musk suspends journalists on Twitter

Twitter immediately suspended the accounts of a number of tech journalists, together with reporters for CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post. Many of the reporters had just lately tweeted about Musk’s dispute with the @ElonJet account, which tracked his non-public aircraft utilizing publicly accessible information. That account had been suspended on Dec. 14, and Musk tweeted on Dec. 15 that the identical rule that utilized in that case utilized to journalists as properly, including later that the suspensions would final seven days. 

The suspensions sparked an outcry, with the president of the Society of Professional Journalists saying, “Twitter’s motion impacts all journalists and goes towards Musk’s promise to uphold free speech on the platform.” European officers additionally voiced considerations. The vp for values and transparency for the European Commission referred to as the suspensions “worrying.” An account that helped Twitter customers join at rival social community Mastodon was additionally suspended on Dec. 15. ElonJet has an account on Mastodon. Read the complete story on the suspensions right here.

Dec. 14: @ElonJet account will get suspended

The Twitter account @ElonJet, which tracked Elon Musk’s non-public aircraft utilizing publicly accessible flight monitoring information, was suspended. The program was created by University of Central Florida pupil Jack Sweeney, who highlighted the change on his private account and famous that Twitter had beforehand restricted @ElonJet’s visibility on the platform. Sweeney’s private account has been suspended as properly, together with a bunch of different flight tracker accounts.

Last month, Musk mentioned his dedication to free speech was so sturdy that the account would not be banned despite the fact that he thought-about it a “direct private security danger.” 

In a tweet, Musk defined his change of stance, saying, “real-time posting of another person’s location violates doxxing coverage, however delayed posting of areas are okay.” 

Twitter’s Private data and media coverage web page says stay location data like journey routes is a violation of its coverage. It seems this can be a change that occurred on Dec. 14: An archived model of the web page discovered on Wayback Machine and dated Dec. 13 would not embrace this data. 

Sweeney’s program stays accessible on Facebook, Instagram and different social media. It additionally posted on open-source social community Mastodon for the primary time. 

Neither Twitter nor Sweeney responded to requests for remark.

Dec 12: Twitter disbands Trust and Safety Council

Twitter is dissolving its Trust and Safety Council, which included skilled organizations who suggested the corporate on points reminiscent of on-line security, harassment, youngster sexual exploitation and different necessary subjects.

A web page for the council is now not accessible however an archived model confirmed the council was made up of the Anti-Defamation League, the Center for Democracy and Technology, the Trevor Project and extra. The transfer comes after three members of the council resigned due to person security considerations and it raises questions on how Twitter will correctly deal with dangerous content material transferring ahead.

In an e mail seen by numerous media retailers together with CNN and The Washington Post, Twitter informed members of its Trust and Safety Council that it is reassessing one of the best ways to “deliver exterior insights” into its “product and coverage improvement work.”

“As a part of this course of, we now have determined that the Trust and Safety Council will not be the most effective construction to do that,” the e-mail mentioned, noting that it is dedicated to security on the platform. Twitter, which now not has a communications division, did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Twitter relaunches subscription service

Twitter relaunched its subscription service Twitter Blue, charging $11 per 30 days for Apple gadget customers and $8 per 30 days for individuals who use the online model of the platform. Twitter Blue contains options reminiscent of a technique to edit a tweet and a blue checkmark as soon as the corporate opinions the account. The social community handled a flood of imposter accounts when it began revamping its verification system however Twitter made adjustments to assist deal with the issue. A Twitter person’s account have to be not less than 90 days outdated and make sure their cellphone quantity to subscribe to Twitter Blue.

The firm additionally began rolling out gold badges for companies and plans to determine authorities organizations with grey examine marks. Musk reiterated in a tweet that he plans to eliminate blue examine marks for customers beforehand verified for being notable, lively and genuine in a number of months.

Dec. 10: Twitter Blue to relaunch, with blue examine marks, ‘overview’ course of

In a tweet thread, the social community mentioned its Twitter Blue subscription service would relaunch on Dec. 12 and that subscribers will get a blue examine mark as soon as their account “has been reviewed.” It did not, nonetheless, give particulars concerning the vetting course of. The social community’s longstanding blue verification badge, that includes a examine mark, was initially designed to indicate that verified customers really are who they are saying they’re. And Musk’s want to tie the badge to a paid subscription prompted critics to name the authentication image meaningless. Musk’s technique additionally led to chaos when Twitter Blue was initially relaunched and a few subscribers hid behind the examine marks to impersonate others (together with Musk himself). The service was placed on maintain however will now, apparently, reappear. More particulars right here.

Dec. 8: Musk guarantees to inform Twitter customers if they have been shadow banned

Musk mentioned the corporate is engaged on a course of to tell Twitter customers whether or not their tweets have been suppressed underneath a course of often called shadow banning and allow them to enchantment the scenario. The announcement got here as journalist Bari Weiss revealed screenshots of firm paperwork suggesting Twitter staff downplayed conservative voices on the platform.

“Twitter is engaged on a software program replace that can present your true account standing,” Musk mentioned in a tweet. “So clearly should you’ve been shadowbanned, the explanation why and how you can enchantment.”

Like different social media websites, Twitter has been accused of suppressing sure varieties of political speech on the platform — a apply known as shadowbanning, wherein a remark or publish is made seen solely to the person who created it.

Dec. 7: Twitter will reportedly enhance Blue pricing on Apple units

Twitter informed staff that it intends to cost $7 a month for its Twitter Blue premium service if subscribers pay for it on-line, based on The Information. Musk beforehand instructed it might price $8 a month.

However, the report additionally famous that Twitter Blue would price $11 for individuals who subscribe by the iPhone app. The value enhance looks as if a response to the 30% reduce Apple takes on iOS purchases.

Neither Apple nor Twitter instantly responded to requests for remark.

Dec. 3: Apple reportedly resumes Twitter advert campaigns

Apple has “absolutely resumed” its promoting on Twitter, based on Bloomberg. The firm reportedly spends greater than $100 million to promote on the platform annually. Bloomberg’s report got here after Musk met with Apple boss Tim Cook, with the Musk additionally tweeting his thanks to advertisers for returning to the positioning. 

Amazon paused a few of its promoting campaigns on Twitter, based on tech outlet Platformer’s Zoë Schiffer. however is reportedly planning to extend advert spending on the platform to $100 million yearly.

Neither Twitter nor Apple responded to requests for remark. Amazon declined to remark.

Dec 2: Researchers say hate speech surged on Twitter after Musk takeover

Researchers are pushing again towards Musk’s declare that hate speech has declined on the platform since he bought the corporate.

Tweets containing hateful slurs rose after Musk took over the social media platform on Oct. 27, based on analysis from the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate. 

Researchers in contrast the typical every day tweets from the week earlier than Musk’s takeover (Sept. 27 to Oct. 26) to the week as much as Musk’s declare about hate speech falling (Nov. 18 to Nov. 24). A slur used towards Black folks was in 30,546 tweets, triple the speed earlier than Musk’s takeover, the analysis confirmed. Tweets with slurs towards homosexual males, transgender folks, Jewish folks and Latinos additionally elevated throughout that point interval.

Researchers used information from Brandwatch, a social media analytics firm, and the numbers included authentic tweets, quote tweets and retweets. The tweets the group analyzed got here from numerous locations the world over however included solely these in English. 

Musk disputed the declare on Twitter, posting a chart masking Oct. 17 to Nov. 30. He mentioned information confirmed the variety of hate speech “impressions,” which he outlined because the variety of occasions a tweet was considered, has declined. The chart exhibits hate speech impressions at barely greater than 2.5 million on the finish of November. Musk did not present particulars about how Twitter outlined hate speech or the way it measured these impressions. 

Nov. 30: Musk tweets he met with Apple CEO, tries to reassure manufacturers

Musk tweeted that he met with Apple CEO Tim Cook and toured the iPhone maker’s headquarters. Musk has been criticizing Apple this week, alleging with out providing proof that the corporate censors voices, has a “secret 30% tax” on App Store purchases and threatened to withhold Twitter from the App retailer. Apple did not reply to a request for remark about Musk’s tweet. 

“Good dialog,” Musk mentioned in a separate tweet. “Among different issues, we resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter doubtlessly being faraway from the App Store. Tim was clear that Apple by no means thought-about doing so.”

Musk seems to be attempting to reassure manufacturers that could be cautious about promoting on Twitter. Musk additionally retweeted a Twitter weblog publish that states model security continues to be one of many firm’s prime priorities and none of Twitter’s insurance policies has modified. But the corporate has stopped imposing its guidelines towards deceptive COVID-19 data, and Musk has mentioned he would grant “amnesty” to suspended accounts, permitting them to return to the positioning if “they haven’t damaged the regulation or engaged in egregious spam.”

EU warns Musk that Twitter faces potential ban

Thierry Breton, the European Union’s commissioner for the interior market, informed Musk that Twitter could possibly be banned within the area or hit with a advantageous of as much as 6% of its international turnover if the corporate would not persist with the EU’s guidelines on content material moderation, based on the Financial Times.

Twitter should adhere to the Digital Services Act, mentioned Breton, who apparently informed Musk he should finish his “arbitrary” method to reinstating banned customers, should pursue disinformation “aggressively” and should conform to an “intensive unbiased audit” of Twitter by subsequent 12 months. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Breton informed Musk that Twitter had “large work forward” to adjust to European rules, based on a readout of a video name between the 2 offered by Breton’s workplace. The Commission is anticipated to conduct a “stress check” at Twitter’s headquarters in 2023 “to focus on compliance even forward of authorized deadlines, and to organize for an intensive unbiased audit.”

Twitter restores Irish exec to job after courtroom intervenes

Sinead McSweeney has been reinstated to her function as Twitter’s international vp for public coverage, the Journal.ie reported.  She received a short lived injunction from Ireland’s High Court stopping the corporate from firing her.

McSweeney reasoned that she by no means resigned, however Twitter acted like she was now not an worker on the firm after she did not reply to Musk’s Nov. 16 e mail. The e mail reportedly demanded that every one staff click on “sure” to verify their continued employment on the firm. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 29: COVID-19 misinformation coverage dropped

Like different social media platforms, Twitter spent the previous couple of years battling deceptive details about COVID-19, whether or not it was about faux treatments or about harmful conspiracy theories relating to vaccines. But Twitter is now not imposing its coverage towards deceptive COVID-19 data as of Nov. 23. 

The firm did so quietly, and the coverage replace wasn’t noticed for a number of days till CNN, Twitter customers and some different publications seen it. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark and elaboration on the coverage change. 

Twitter Blue rollout reportedly delayed

The launch of tweaked subscription service Twitter Blue has been pushed again, based on The Verge and Platformer, in an try and keep away from Apple’s 30% reduce of App Store purchases. This adopted Musk tweeting criticism of Apple. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Former exec condemns Musk administration fashion

Yoel Roth, Twitter’s former head of belief and security, mentioned he left the corporate as a result of he knew Musk’s edict-focused management would finally permit a “catastrophe” like Twitter Blue verification to roll out regardless of his group’s recommendation. Roth warned that the corporate will not be secure with Musk at its helm. Roth’s new feedback observe his Nov. 18 New York Times op-ed criticizing Musk’s method.

Nov. 28: One worker left on youngster security group

After widespread layoffs and resignations, a group tasked with figuring out and eradicating youngster sexual abuse content material from the positioning now has just one staffer, based on Wired. It wasn’t instantly clear how many individuals have been on the group beforehand, however Wired mentioned it had recognized 4 Singapore-based youngster security specialists who mentioned they left the corporate in November.

The group, primarily based at Twitter’s Asian headquarters in Singapore, is answerable for imposing the corporate’s ban on youngster sexual abuse materials — an ongoing and irritating battle for the social community. Twitter, which makes most of its cash from promoting promoting, mentioned in September it was investigating how adverts from main manufacturers appeared on profiles that have been soliciting or promoting youngster sexual abuse content material.

Twitter representatives did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Congressional Republicans noticed uptick in followers

In the primary few weeks of Musk’s possession of Twitter, a number of high-profile Republican members of Congress noticed their person profiles achieve followers, whereas a few of their Democratic counterparts skilled a decline, based on an evaluation by The Washington Post. 

Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Jordan gained greater than 300,000 every, whereas Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff and unbiased Sen. Bernie Sanders all misplaced about 100,000 Twitter followers, the Post reported. The newspaper mentioned it could not determine what precipitated the change however identified it is in step with a pattern that began when Musk introduced in April his intention to purchase Twitter.

Nov. 27: Twitter flooded with spam that obscured Chinese COVID-19 protest tweets

Twitter is grappling with spam tweets after protests about COVID-19 restrictions erupted in China.

The Washington Post and TechCrunch reported that tweets from Chinese-language Twitter accounts that had been inactive for months began tweeting hyperlinks to escort, porn and playing companies together with names of main Chinese cities. That meant that when a Twitter person tried to seek for a metropolis in China, their search outcomes have been crammed with spam they usually had a more durable time discovering tweets concerning the protests. The subject comes as Twitter has a smaller group to deal with this drawback. The Washington Post reported that staff estimate that the corporate’s workforce has been slashed from 7,500 to 2,000 folks.

Researchers have been protecting an in depth eye on the Chinese spam. Stanford Internet Observatory Director Alex Stamos tweeted that his group is engaged on their very own evaluation. 

Still engaged on our personal evaluation, however right here is a few good preliminary information that factors to this being an intentional assault to throw up informational chaff and scale back exterior visibility into protests in China (Twitter being blocked for many PRC residents):https://t.co/kPK7nMeCPu

— Alex Stamos (@alexstamos) November 28, 2022

Nov. 26: Musk notes “We’re recruiting”

Must tweeted a set of slides late Saturday, the primary of which famous “we’re recruiting” — after weeks of layoffs, resignations and different defections on the firm. Musk once more claimed engagement is surging on Twitter, sharing slides that claimed new signups and lively minutes have just lately hit report highs. (The figures could not be independently verified.)  He additionally reiterated his ambitions to make Twitter into an “every thing app,” sharing mockups of options like encrypted direct messages, longform tweets and funds.

Musk additionally has personally referred to as the CEOs of main manufacturers that halted promoting on Twitter, based on the Financial Times, which cited an unnamed supply. Other manufacturers diminished their spending to a minimal reasonably than slicing it off fully to be able to keep away from confrontation with Musk, the FT reported. 

Nov. 25: Color-coded ‘verified’ examine marks coming Dec. 2

Just after midnight Friday, Musk tweeted his latest idea for verification, which is ready to go stay on Dec. 2. Check mark badges will are available in three colours: gold for corporations, grey for governments and blue for people “movie star or not.” Musk is lumping each famous people and Twitter Blue subscribers collectively within the blue examine bucket, although people also can have a smaller secondary brand exhibiting “they belong to an org if verified as such by that org,” Musk defined in a follow-up tweet.

Musk has been twiddling with verified examine marks since he took over. He first tried an $8-per-month Twitter Blue subscription that blurred the road between authenticated people and paid accounts, resulting in a slew of individuals impersonating celebrities and firms that precipitated mayhem. Then Twitter added grey examine marks for “official” accounts of governments, media retailers, enterprise companions and “some public figures,” however then eliminated the checks as the corporate dithered on who would get the “official” label. 

The new three-color scheme appears designed to cut back impersonations whereas preserving subscriber income. 

Musk additionally famous that “all verified accounts shall be manually authenticated earlier than examine prompts,” although it is unclear whether or not this shall be finished fully by Twitter or if customers shall be concerned in authenticating their id. Twitter didn’t reply to a request for remark. Musk famous {that a} longer clarification shall be coming subsequent week.

Later within the day Musk floated the potential of creating his personal smartphone if Apple and Google determine besides Twitter from their respective platforms. “I definitely hope it doesn’t come to that, however, sure, if there is no such thing as a different alternative, I’ll make an alternate cellphone,” he tweeted in a response to a query concerning the state of affairs. 

Musk provided few different particulars, however the creation of not only a smartphone, however a rival cellular platform that will get across the Apple App Store and Google Play Store is extremely tough, requiring a mixture of customized {hardware} and software program. 

Considering how stitched Elon is between Twitter, SpaceX and Tesla, stepping into the cellphone enterprise may not be the most effective concept. 

Nov. 24: Musk proclaims ‘amnesty,’ additionally fires engineers earlier than Thanksgiving

After tweeting a non-scientific ballot a day earlier, Musk introduced the outcomes on Thursday. More than 72% of three.16 million respondents voted “sure” to the query: “Should Twitter provide a common amnesty to suspended accounts, offered that they haven’t damaged the regulation or engaged in egregious spam?”

“The folks have spoken. Amnesty begins subsequent week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” he tweeted Thursday, referencing a Latin phrase that interprets as “voice of the folks, voice of God.”

Separately, Musk could also be within the working for this 12 months’s Ebenezer Scrooge award after reportedly firing roughly 50 engineers proper earlier than Thanksgiving, based on tech publication Platformer. The publication was corroborating a report from The Verge that some Twitter engineers obtained emails on Wednesday saying they’d been fired as a result of their “code will not be passable.” Twitter engineers had earlier been informed to ship code samples to Musk. His “hardcore” method to work is extensively identified inside Silicon Valley, together with at his different corporations the place he is demanded “minimal” 40-hour workweeks from workers.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that Twitter disbanded its workplace in Brussels, Belgium, after leaders there exited the corporate. The FT mentioned two of the executives had led Twitter’s efforts to adjust to the EU’s Digital Services Act, which units guidelines round content material moderation, amongst different issues. Others reportedly managed the corporate’s relationship with European regulators.

Twitter did not instantly reply to requests for remark.

Nov. 23: Musk might reinstate extra suspended accounts

Musk floated the thought of providing “a common amnesty to suspended accounts” so long as they have not damaged the regulation or engaged in “egregious spam.”

In a tweet, Musk polled customers concerning the concept. It’s unclear what number of accounts this potential change would cowl, however some customers have raised considerations that doing so would end in extra hate speech and different dangerous content material spreading on the platform. 

Musk has been bringing again accounts that Twitter suspended for violating its guidelines towards hateful conduct, COVID misinformation and glorification of violence. He reinstated former US President Donald Trump’s account after polling customers concerning the concept. Twitter suspended Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots as a result of the platform feared his tweets might incite extra violence.  

Nov. 22: Musk faucets iPhone hacker for assist

George Hotz, a hacker identified for being the primary individual to jailbreak an iPhone in 2007 and founding autonomous driving startup Comma.ai, accepted a 12-week “internship” at Twitter to assist enhance the social media community’s search capabilities. Hotz and Musk have had an advanced relationship. Hotz has claimed he turned down a job to work at Tesla, whereas Musk has dismissed the notion that Hotz and Comma.ai might create a greater autonomous driving system than Tesla’s Autopilot. 

Meanwhile, Twitter is present process a cost-cutting marketing campaign that The New York Times experiences contains refusing to pay distributors for excellent payments. The price cuts are concentrating on infrastructure, journey bills, software program companies and actual estates, the Times experiences, citing a number of unnamed sources. 

At the identical time, The Washington Post and trade watchers Pathmatics and Media Matters For America reported that as many as half of Twitter’s prime 100 advertisers have both introduced or seemingly stopped spending on the platform. 

Nov. 21: Even extra account bans carry, Musk holds off on paid verification relaunch 

Still extra once-suspended accounts continued to have their bans lifted. On Nov. 21, US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s private Twitter account was unlocked, 10 months after being completely suspended for violating Twitter’s COVID misinformation coverage. But amid the parade of restored accounts, Musk claimed one ban will stay in place: Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. 

Later within the day, Musk tweeted that Twitter is “holding off” the relaunch of paid verification by its Twitter Blue subscription service till “there’s excessive confidence of stopping impersonation.” Twitter paused the brand new verification system earlier in November after customers who bought the verified blue examine marks posed as main manufacturers, politicians, athletes and different celebrities. Twitter was anticipated to relaunch paid verification on Nov. 29. Musk tweeted that the corporate will most likely use a special coloration examine mark for organizations versus people. 

Nov. 20: More suspended accounts revived, World Cup begins

After Musk reversed former US President Donald Trump’s everlasting ban, extra suspended accounts got here again on-line, together with that of Kanye West. Known as Ye after altering his title final 12 months, West tweeted to his 32 million followers for the primary time in two weeks, after he had been locked out for an antisemitic menace. 

Project Veritas, a conservative activist group identified for hidden-camera movies, was additionally reinstated, after being suspended final 12 months for disclosing folks’s private data, a cost it denied. 

Separately, the FIFA World Cup kicked off. The occasion usually spurs spikes in Twitter utilization, as folks all over the world converge to experience real-time updates and posts associated to its matches. In the flood of utilization, worries endured that Twitter could be tripped up by outages and disruptions because it copes with working with a fraction of its normal workers. But the primary day of the event appeared to proceed with out Twitter experiencing any main incidents.

Nov. 19: Musk lets Trump again on Twitter

Elon Musk’s long-expected reversal of Trump’s everlasting ban from Twitter got here true, opening the door for the controversial politician to regain his social media megaphone.

Musk had polled customers on Twitter about whether or not Trump ought to be allowed again onto the platform. The ultimate outcomes of that ballot confirmed 51.8% in favor of reinstating Trump and 48.2% towards.

“The folks have spoken,” Musk tweeted. “Trump shall be reinstated.” An account with the acquainted title @actualDonaldTrump confirmed up on the positioning. Twitter, like different social networks, had booted Trump after the lethal Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots.

Separately, Bloomberg reported that Musk is contemplating firing extra staff on the gross sales and partnership facet. He reportedly requested leaders, together with Robin Wheeler, the pinnacle of gross sales and advertising and marketing, to fireside extra staff. Wheeler refused and misplaced her job (she lists herself as an ex-Twitter gross sales exec on her profile). 

Twitter, which has laid off its communications division, did not reply to a query despatched to its press e mail.

Nov. 18: Musk asks engineers to come back to the workplace. Previously banned accounts get reinstated

Twitter staff have been locked out of the corporate’s headquarters, however Musk reportedly despatched an e mail asking for some software program engineers to move again into the workplace, based on Bloomberg. Musk requested the coders to satisfy with him and supply examples of their coding work to be able to assist him higher perceive the software program. 

Musk tweeted concerning the firm’s coverage on speech saying sure tweets is not going to have “freedom of attain.”

“Negative/hate tweets shall be max deboosted & demonetized, so no adverts or different income to Twitter,” he mentioned. “You will not discover the tweet until you particularly search it out, which isn’t any completely different from remainder of web.”

Musk adopted that tweet with one other saying conservative media character Jordan Peterson, right-wing satire website The Babylon Bee and comic Kathy Griffin can have their banned accounts reinstated. Twitter booted Peterson and The Babylon Bee from the platform earlier within the 12 months over anti-trans tweets whereas Griffin had her account suspended final week for altering it right into a Musk parody account. 

Musk additionally tweeted that Twitter hasn’t decided relating to former President Donald Trump’s account, however Yoel Roth, the previous head of belief and security at Twitter, mentioned in a New York Times opinion piece revealed Nov. 18 that the ex-president’s reinstatement was “close to certainty.” Twitter banned Trump from its platform in 2021 due to considerations his remarks might spark extra violence after the lethal Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot. 

Roth, who resigned from the corporate, wrote how Musk referred to as for extra censoring of tweets after a surge of hate speech confirmed up on the platform following his takeover. He additionally went on to elucidate the necessity for content material moderation was not solely necessary to maintain advertisers blissful, however it additionally was wanted to appease app retailer house owners and authorities entities, such because the European Union, which have legal guidelines towards hate speech. 

In a 24-hour ballot on Twitter, Musk requested customers if Trump’s account ought to be reinstated.

Twitter customers are nonetheless anxious concerning the platform’s potential dying, particularly forward of high-traffic occasions such because the FIFA World Cup that kicks off on Nov. 20. The New York Times, citing three folks near the corporate, reported that some estimates confirmed that not less than 1,200 staff resigned on Nov. 17 after Musk gave them a alternative to remain or depart. 

User security is one other huge concern on Twitter. CNN reporter Oliver Darcy tweeted that the White House is asking Twitter to elucidate the way it’s safeguarding “the protection of Americans’ on-line information.” The White House did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 17: Twitter customers concern finish is close to. Musk locks workplace doorways. Many staff take severance. Senators need investigation

Twitter customers began tweeting farewell remarks as #RIPTwitter trended on the platform within the US and different components of the world. 

Fears a few potential collapse of the positioning got here after a whole lot of staff determined to depart the corporate earlier within the day. One former Twitter worker informed The Washington Post that there isn’t any longer a “skeleton crew manning the system.” 

Twitter “will proceed to coast till it runs into one thing, after which it’ll cease,” the worker mentioned. 

Musk tweeted a meme with Twitter’s brand on a headstone. 

The remaining 3,500 or so staff who have been left at Twitter after 1000’s have been laid off had a option to make on the finish of the day on Nov. 17: Remain underneath Musk’s plan for an intense “Twitter 2.0” or depart with three months of severance pay.

Up to 75% of remaining staff selected the exit, based on Fortune and Bloomberg, creating confusion about what number of remaining folks would have entry to the places of work. The Verge reported that those that left included some “legendary” engineers and coders.

Around the identical time, the corporate apparently locked the doorways to its San Francisco headquarters till Nov. 21, based on tech publication Platformer. 

Twitter, which can now not have a public relations division, did not reply to a request for remark.

All of this occurred after Musk softened his stance on how he needed to run the brand new Twitter, not less than considerably. An e mail despatched to Twitter staff on Nov. 9 mentioned distant work can be banned, however an e mail to staff on Nov. 17 said that distant work is feasible if permitted, based on a report from Bloomberg. 

“All that’s required for approval is that your supervisor takes duty for making certain that you’re making a superb contribution,” Musk mentioned within the e mail. He additionally desires staff to have in-person group conferences not less than as soon as a month. 

Scoop: I’m listening to far fewer than anticipated devs hit “sure”.

Elon despatched out an e mail stress-free distant working from the previous draconian coverage.

I’m listening to he’s having conferences w prime engineers to persuade them to remain.

Sounds like taking part in hardball doesn’t work. Ofc it would not. https://t.co/VrPEn4IwBG

— Gergely Orosz (@GergelyOrosz) November 17, 2022

Twitter can be dealing with extra scrutiny from US lawmakers.  A gaggle of Democratic senators despatched a letter to Lina Khan, the chairwoman of the US Federal Trade Commission. Outlined within the letter are what the legislators described as “alarming steps” taken by Musk together with new options which have been utilized by scammers, a rise in hate speech and the elimination of cybersecurity executives inside the firm, doubtlessly placing customers’ private information in danger. 

The senators level out that these actions might place the corporate in violation of the FTC’s consent decree to guard this information as a part of a settlement with the fee in 2011. 

“We urge the Commission to vigorously oversee its consent decree with Twitter and to deliver enforcement actions towards any breaches or enterprise practices which are unfair or misleading, together with bringing civil penalties and imposing legal responsibility on particular person Twitter executives the place acceptable,” the senators mentioned. 

Among the seven senators who signed the letter are Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey. 

Twitter violated the consent decree in May when the FTC discovered the corporate used safety information like cellphone numbers and e mail addresses to focus on promoting at customers. This led to a $150 million settlement paid by Twitter.

Musk appeared to finish the day poking enjoyable at his earlier warning that Twitter might go bankrupt.

How do you make a small fortune in social media?

Start out with a big one.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2022

Twitter has not responded to a number of requests for remark.

Nov. 16: Musk calls for ‘hardcore’ work tradition. Dorsey’s ‘nope’

Musk emailed all workers to define his imaginative and prescient for “Twitter 2.0,” which would require an “extraordinarily hardcore” tradition, with lengthy hours and excessive depth, based on Pragmatic Engineer author (and former Uber engineer) Gergely Orosz. Employees should conform to this on Thursday or depart with three months of severance pay. 

Scoop: Elon Musk simply despatched an e mail to all workers outlining “Twitter 2.0″, writing it’ll”have to be extraordinarily hardcore”. Long hours, excessive depth.

People must click on “sure” to verify being a part of this by 5pm ET tomorrow, else they get 3 months severance. More particulars:

— Gergely Orosz (@GergelyOrosz) November 16, 2022

During testimony Wednesday over a Tesla shareholder case alleging that his wage as CEO is extreme, Musk additionally reportedly informed the courtroom that he doesn’t wish to be CEO of Tesla, and that his chief govt management of Twitter is a short lived association.

“I anticipate to cut back my time at Twitter and discover anyone else to run Twitter over time,” he mentioned, based on CNBC.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

When a follower requested Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey if he’d contemplate returning as CEO, Dorsey responded with a agency “nope.” There’s no indication that he received a proposal to return — the follower’s question got here after Dorsey engaged in dialog about Twitter’s future and expressed confidence that the positioning would survive. His earlier tenure as CEO resulted in May 2021, and he left its board of administrators in May 2022. 

Nov. 15: Workers fired for talking about Musk on Slack

Employees who criticized Elon Musk in Twitter’s Slack channels have been fired in a single day through e mail, Platformer’s Casey Newton mentioned in a tweet. They have been apparently informed their “current conduct has violated firm coverage.” It’s unclear how many individuals have been affected.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 14: Musk desires better Twitter video help

Speaking through video hyperlink, Musk informed enterprise leaders in the course of the G20 summit in Bali that he desires to see Twitter help extra longer-form video to usher in extra content material creators. He additionally famous that he is been working “on the absolute most quantity … from morning til evening, seven days every week” because the acquisition.

Nov. 13: SpaceX reportedly buys main Twitter advert package deal

SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace firm, ordered a Twitter “takeover” promoting package deal for its satellite tv for pc web service Starlink, CNBC reported. This will seemingly promote the service on folks’s Twitter timelines in Spain and Australia and might price greater than $250,000. It comes after some advertisers paused campaigns as a result of upheaval at Twitter. 

SpaceX did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 12: Thousands of contract staff seemingly terminated

Twitter reduce 1000’s of contract staff, based on Platformer’s Casey Newton, Axios and CNBC, with Newton reporting that round 4,400 of Twitter’s roughly 5,500 contractors have been affected. Most did not get any discover and discovered as a result of they misplaced entry to the corporate’s e mail and inner communications techniques, Newton reported.

The firm did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 11: Twitter Blue subscription possibility vanishes

The possibility to enroll in the $8 a month subscription service Twitter Blue is now not accessible on Twitter’s iOS app, as earlier reported by The Verge. The shift comes days after the service launched for Apple units and previous to its Android launch. Attempting to subscribe on desktop directs you to the iOS app.

CNET can verify that this manifests in two distinct methods: the choice to subscribe has vanished from the sidebar, and tapping the hyperlink offers you an error message. 

“Thank you to your curiosity!” it reads. “Twitter Blue shall be accessible in your nation sooner or later. Please examine again later.”

It’s unclear why the corporate paused signups for the service, however numerous customers reportedly purchased verification to impersonate manufacturers and celebrities. An inner observe posted on Slack mentioned it stopped folks from subscribing “to assist deal with impersonation points,” based on Platformer’s Zoë Schiffer.

Twitter did not reply to CNET’s request for remark.

Nov. 10: Musk bans distant work and warns of chapter, legal professional says he is risking billions in FTC fines

Musk despatched his first emails to staff on Nov. 9, warning that “the financial image forward is dire.” He banned distant work until he personally permitted it, based on Bloomberg, whereas The New York Times reported that he informed staff “absolutely the prime precedence is discovering and suspending any verified bots/trolls/spam.”

An legal professional on Twitter’s privateness group posted a message within the firm’s Slack warning that Musk’s concentrate on monetizing its customers is making him take harmful steps, The Verge reported. It’s apparently at specific danger of incurring billions in fines from the Federal Trade Commission within the wake of a May settlement relating to using private data to focus on adverts.

Twitter’s chief privateness officer, Damien Kieran; Chief Information Security Officer Lea Kissner; and Chief Compliance Officer Marianne Fogarty all resigned, The Verge famous. Kissner’s departure confirmed her departure in a tweet.

Musk additionally reportedly informed staff chapter was a chance, Bloomberg reported, citing an individual aware of the matter. Two extra Twitter executives — Yoel Roth, the corporate’s head of belief and security, and Robin Wheeler, who led advertising and marketing and gross sales at Twitter — additionally resigned, based on the report. Wheeler then determined to remain on the firm after Musk persuaded her to take action, Bloomberg reported. Roth, Wheeler and Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro did not reply to a request for remark. 

Nov. 9: Musk tries to reassure advertisers amid confusion about examine marks

Twitter’s rollout of a new verification system is messy. Twitter began including grey examine marks and an “official” label to high-profile Twitter accounts however then scrapped a few of the adjustments hours later.

In an hour-long stay audio chat on Twitter later within the day, Musk mentioned the brand new labels are an “aesthetic nightmare when trying on the Twitter feed” and “one other approach of making a two-class system.” 

Esther Crawford, who oversees early-stage merchandise at Twitter, tweeted that the corporate would nonetheless be rolling out the “official” label however to authorities and industrial entities first. Twitter additionally began permitting folks so as to add blue examine marks to their profiles in the event that they pay $8 a month for a Twitter Blue subscription. Scammers are already utilizing the brand new system to create faux accounts. Twitter mentioned it might droop accounts engaged in misleading ways and impersonation.

In the audio chat, Musk mentioned Twitter’s plans for a content material moderation council and selections by corporations to quickly pause their promoting campaigns on Twitter.

“I do not assume having hate speech subsequent to an advert is nice. Obviously,” he mentioned. Musk additionally mentioned he thinks it’ll take Twitter a few months to create a content material moderation council. 

He signaled, although, that he is not planning to decelerate with regards to altering Twitter. 

“The price of evolution of Twitter shall be an immense step change in comparison with what it has been up to now,” he mentioned. “You know, if nothing else, I’m a technologist and I could make expertise go quick.”

Nov. 6: Paid examine marks could also be pushed again, Musk cracks down on impersonation

Paid verification reportedly delayed till after election

Twitter is postponing the rollout of verification badges related to an $8 month-to-month subscription service till after the midterm elections, based on The New York Times.

Impersonators get the boot

Musk warned that any Twitter account partaking in impersonation with out clearly specifying that it is parody would get hit with a everlasting ban. In response, some customers modified their names to “Elon Musk,” which led to their suspension.

Nov. 5: Paying for examine marks, listening to from Dorsey

Pay-for-verification plan exhibits up in iOS replace

Version notes for the newest iteration of Twitter’s app for the Apple iPhone confirmed up within the App Store, with a What’s New part that pointed to the verification characteristic. The notes inform customers that “beginning right now” should you “join now” for an $8-a-month Twitter Blue subscription, “your account will get a blue examine mark, similar to the celebrities, corporations, and politicians you already observe.” It seems, although, that this system hasn’t really kicked in but. Read extra right here.

Dorsey weighs in

With information experiences saying Twitter had laid off about half its workers, co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey took to the service to supply phrases of encouragement and to position blame on himself.

“I personal the duty for why everyone seems to be on this scenario: I grew the corporate dimension too rapidly. I apologize for that,” Dorsey tweeted. He additionally referred to as Twitter staffers previous and current “resilient” and mentioned, “I’m grateful for, and love, everybody who has ever labored on Twitter. I do not anticipate that to be mutual on this second.”

In April, Dorsey expressed his help of Musk taking up the corporate, however he additionally mentioned that in precept, he thought nobody ought to personal or run Twitter and that it ought to as a substitute be “a public good.”

Nov. 4: Musk says Twitter has had ‘large drop’ in income

Since Musk’s takeover, a number of main advertisers, reminiscent of Tesla rival General Motors, meals firm General Mills and pharmaceutical company Pfizer, have quickly paused their advert campaigns on Twitter. Musk tweeted that Twitter has had a “large drop” in income, which he blamed on activist teams pressuring advertisers. Musk did not say in his tweet how a lot Twitter’s income has fallen, nor did he determine the activists. In the tweet, Musk additionally mentioned Twitter hasn’t modified its content material moderation insurance policies. 

Musk additionally made an look on the Baron Investment Conference, the place he famous that Twitter grappled with income challenges earlier than the acquisition and that he tried to get out of the deal.

His remarks got here after Twitter began shedding staff. Musk later tweeted that there was “no alternative when the corporate is dropping over $4M/day.” Without specifying how many individuals have been laid off or what share of the workforce, Musk added they have been “provided 3 months of severance.” Reportedly, about half of Twitter’s 7,500-person work drive was laid off.

Civil rights teams that met with Musk spoke out concerning the layoffs.

“For starters, there isn’t any technique to maintain election integrity in place if you’re slicing capability to do the monitoring in #TwitterLayoffs,” tweeted Rashad Robinson, president of racial justice group Color of Change. The group is a part of #StopToxicTwitter, a coalition of greater than 60 organizations which are urging main advertisers to pause spending and put money into content material moderation. Partners listed on the coalition’s web site embrace the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Public Citizen, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.

The Volkswagen Group and others reportedly paused advert spending due to considerations that adverts might seem alongside problematic content material on the platform.

Nov. 3: Musk appears for methods to chop prices, lawsuit filed

Musk desires to chop prices and make Twitter much less depending on promoting. 

Reuters, citing two sources aware of the matter and an inner Slack message, reported that Musk directed Twitter’s group to search out greater than $1 billion in infrastructure price financial savings.

The firm is different methods to generate income outdoors of promoting, together with “paywalled” movies and paid direct messages, The New York Times reported, citing two folks with data of the matter and inner paperwork.

Musk is already making adjustments to Twitter’s work tradition. Bloomberg reported that Musk has eliminated “days of relaxation” from Twitter’s worker calendars and plans to cancel the corporate’s distant work coverage. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Twitter reportedly informed staff in an e mail that layoffs would occur. A lawsuit in search of class motion standing, accused Twitter of violating the federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires massive corporations to present not less than 60 days of advance discover earlier than mass layoffs, as beforehand reported by Bloomberg.

Nov. 2: Musk reportedly plans to chop half of Twitter’s workforce

Musk plans to chop about 3,700 jobs at Twitter, or half of the social media firm’s workforce, Bloomberg reported. Affected staffers are to learn of their destiny by Nov. 4, sources informed the information outlet.

Musk additionally plans to reverse the corporate’s present work-from-anywhere coverage, requiring remaining staff to report back to an workplace, the unidentified sources mentioned.

In one state of affairs for decreasing Twitter’s workforce being thought-about, laid off staff shall be provided 60 days’ price of severance pay. Twitter customers have been bracing for layoffs since Musk introduced his bid for Twitter in April. One report indicated that Musk deliberate to chop 75% of jobs at Twitter.

Nov. 1: Musk suggests charging for verification

In a collection of tweets, Musk floated the concept that Twitter cost $8 per 30 days for a verified blue examine mark as a part of its subscription plan. The firm’s subscription service, often called Twitter Blue, at present prices $5 per 30 days however would not embrace verification as a perk.

Twitter at present would not cost to confirm accounts with a blue examine mark, and the badge is meant to be given out to accounts that the corporate determines are “notable, genuine and lively.” The blue examine mark is supposed to assist customers decide if an account of a star, journalist or different public determine is faux or not.

Musk tweeted that the worth can be adjusted by nation and that the subscription would come with “precedence in replies, mentions & search, which is crucial to defeat spam/rip-off,” in addition to the “capability to publish lengthy video & audio.” He additionally mentioned customers would see “half as many adverts.” 

Earlier within the day, The Wall Street Journal reported that Twitter Blue subscribers will lose entry to ad-free articles from publishers like Vox, the Los Angeles Times and Insider. There have been numerous experiences of various costs for a Twitter Blue subscription, with the corporate additionally reportedly having thought-about growing the subscription value to $20 a month.

It’s unclear from Musk’s tweets if verified customers must pay for a subscription or lose their blue examine mark. Musk tweeted there can be “a secondary tag” for public figures, just like the one now used for politicians.

The firm’s chief buyer officer, Sarah Personette, additionally revealed in a tweet that she resigned.

Hi people, I needed to share that I resigned on Friday from Twitter and my work entry was formally reduce off final evening.

— Sarah Personette (@SEP) November 1, 2022

Meanwhile, Twitter mentioned it has eliminated 1,500 accounts since Oct. 29 for posting hateful content material.

Oct. 31: Official CEO, board dissolved, layoff plans, no Trump choice but, content material moderation restricted

Days after naming himself “Chief Twit” on his Twitter profile, Musk confirmed he is the corporate’s CEO by a securities submitting. Other adjustments to Twitter’s management are additionally underway. A associated securities submitting exhibits Twitter’s board of administrators was dissolved the day Musk took over and recognized Musk because the “sole director” of the corporate. 

He additionally reportedly plans to put off 25% of Twitter’s workforce, The Washington Post reported, citing nameless sources. 

Musk, who has beforehand mentioned he would reverse former US President Donald Trump’s everlasting ban from Twitter, continues to be getting questions on whether or not he’ll observe by on that. Twitter booted Trump from its platform in 2021 following the lethal US Capitol Hill riot due to considerations that his remarks might incite extra violence. 

“If I had a greenback for each time somebody requested me if Trump is coming again on this platform, Twitter can be minting cash!” Musk tweeted. 

Twitter additionally restricted some Trust and Safety worker entry to inner instruments, Bloomberg reported, curbing their capability to average content material and deal with misinformation forward of subsequent week’s US elections. They can apparently nonetheless edit or take away posts that would end in real-world hurt.

“This is precisely what we (or any firm) ought to be doing within the midst of a company transition to cut back alternatives for insider danger. We’re nonetheless imposing our guidelines at scale,” Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of security and integrity, tweeted in response to Bloomberg’s story.

Oct. 30: Musk toys with examine mark adjustments and Vine revival, tweets misinformation

Musk has been busy suggesting adjustments to Twitter. He tweeted a ballot about whether or not Twitter ought to deliver again Vine, a short-form video app that Twitter shut down in 2017. 

Twitter additionally reportedly plans to cost $20 per 30 days for its Twitter Blue subscription service, and verified customers would lose their blue examine mark if they do not accomplish that in 90 days, The Verge reported, citing nameless sources. Platformer’s Casey Newton reported that Twitter is considering charging $5 a month to verified customers in the event that they wish to maintain their blue examine marks.

Musk additionally tweeted after which deleted a hyperlink to an article with a baseless conspiracy principle about final week’s assault on Paul Pelosi, the husband of US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco. The article got here from a web site referred to as the Santa Monica Observer. Fact-checking web site Media Bias/Fact Check famous the outlet publishes right-wing misinformation. 

Oct. 29: Twitter battles a surge in racist slurs

Twitter is attempting to fight nameless accounts that began to tweet racist slurs hours after Musk took over Twitter. 

Twitter head of security and integrity Yoel Roth tweeted that the corporate has “seen a small variety of accounts publish a ton of tweets that embrace slurs and different derogatory phrases.” He added that “greater than 50,000 tweets repeatedly utilizing a selected slur got here from simply 300 accounts.”

“Bottom line up entrance: Twitter’s insurance policies have not modified. Hateful conduct has no place right here. And we’re taking steps to place a cease to an organized effort to make folks assume we now have,” he tweeted.

Let’s discuss for a minute about slurs, hateful conduct, and trolling campaigns.

Bottom line up entrance: Twitter’s insurance policies haven’t modified. Hateful conduct has no place right here. And we’re taking steps to place a cease to an organized effort to make folks assume we now have.

— Yoel Roth (@yoyoel) October 30, 2022

Oct. 28: Twitter to type content material moderation council

Advocacy teams have raised considerations that Musk’s management over Twitter would permit extra hate speech and misinformation to floor on the platform. Musk has vowed publicly he would not need Twitter to turn into a “free-for-all hellscape” however has additionally mentioned that he is “towards censorship that goes far past the regulation.”

Musk mentioned the corporate would type a content material moderation council with “extensively numerous viewpoints.” The firm will not make any main content material selections or account reinstatements earlier than the council convenes, he tweeted.

Twitter shall be forming a content material moderation council with extensively numerous viewpoints.

No main content material selections or account reinstatements will occur earlier than that council convenes.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 28, 2022

A securities submitting on Oct. 28 additionally famous that Twitter’s inventory is being delisted on the New York Stock Exchange. Twitter, a publicly traded firm, turned a non-public one. 

Oct. 27: Musk takes over Twitter, fires executives

Musk turned Twitter’s new proprietor and reportedly fired key executives on the firm, together with Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal and Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s head of authorized coverage, belief and security.

Earlier within the day, Musk tweeted a letter to advertisers. The billionaire, who as soon as tweeted that he hated promoting, now posted that “promoting, when finished proper, can delight, entertain and inform you.” 

Musk met with staff all through the week, carried a sink into Twitter’s headquarters as a photograph op and adjusted his profile to “Chief Twit” earlier than information broke that the deal had been accomplished.

CNET workers contributed to this report.