Some Twitter employees are worried about Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s potential influence on the platform’s content moderation policies, Reuters reported Thursday.
Following Musk’s purchase of 73.5 million shares, calls came flooding in on Twitter for Musk to reinstate Trump, who was banned off the social media platform for allegedly inciting violence following the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot.
“Now that @ElonMusk is Twitter’s largest shareholder, it’s time to lift the political censorship. Oh … and BRING BACK TRUMP,” Republican Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert tweeted.
Now that @ElonMusk is Twitter’s largest shareholder, it’s time to lift the political censorship.
Oh… and BRING BACK TRUMP!
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) April 4, 2022
Bring back President Trump.
— Congressman Troy Nehls (@RepTroyNehls) April 5, 2022
.@ElonMusk is now the largest shareholder of Twitter.
Time to get this platform back to its former glory.
Step one – bring back President Trump!
Step two – give everyone who has been banned a second chance.
Step three – end all forms of political and other censorship.
— Errol Webber (@ErrolWebber) April 4, 2022
Republican Indiana Rep. Jim Banks said Wednesday that Musk should revise the social media giant’s content policy to allow all speech that is legal and accurate. (RELATED: FLASHBACK: Elon Musk Says ‘Wokeness … Gives Mean People A Shield To Be Mean And Cruel’)
But calls for Musk to let Trump and others who have been banned off the platform back on have sparked fear in some employees, according to Reuters. “If Donald Trump was actually rich, he would have liked to have done the same thing but he couldn’t afford it. So Elon is doing what Trump would have liked to have done,” said Guidehouse Insights analyst Sam Abuelsamid, who is familiar with Musk’s operating style, Reuters reported.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Twitter restores Trump’s account now that Elon owns nearly 10% of the company,” he said, according to the outlet.
Employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Reuters they fear Musk could derail efforts to make Twitter a safe space for discourse and could possibly influence the company’s decision on harmful content.
Twitter said Musk’s role on the board is “an important advisory and feedback role” but that everyday operational decisions are made by management and employees, according to Reuters.
“Twitter is committed to impartiality in the development and enforcement of its policies and rules,” the spokesperson told Reuters.
Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal said Tuesday he was “excited” for Musk to join the board, noting it’s clear Musk “would bring great value” to the board as a “passionate believer and intense critic of the service.”
However, one employee told the outlet they “find it hard to believe (the board) doesn’t have influence. If that’s the case, why would Elon want a board seat?”
Another employee told Reuters “some people are dusting off their resumes.”
“I don’t want to work for somebody (like Musk),” the employee reportedly said.