How Elon Musk could impact Twitter’s battles over speech abroad
5 min read
Some digital rights advocates say they can’t believe how much Musk has thought about the complex regulatory environment facing Twitter abroad and how far Musk’s proprietary Twitter has lagged behind government pressure in other countries. Wants to withdraw, as it has done in some countries. recently.
“I’m sure Musk’s Twitter will not only care about the ban they will challenge. [or] Resist such an attempt, “he said.
David Kay, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine and former UN special envoy for the promotion and protection of freedom of expression and expression, said the “concern” was that Musk was “involved” Talk about rubbing salt in my wounds – d’oh!
This “Suggests that he cares about everyone, really, his ability to set and post individually … the desire to maximize the possibility that everyone raises his voice, “said Kay, who He also wrote a book, Speech Police: The Global Struggle for Governance on the Internet.
Kaye added: “I don’t even realize he’s thinking about the global part of the platform.”
Musk and Twitter did not respond to a request for comment.
Twitter’s free speech is at war with foreign governments.
In recent years, Twitter has fought several free speech wars against governments in some of the company’s major markets, often responsible for protecting the rights of its users among social media companies.
The Indian government said at the time that Twitter was “welcome to do business in India” but that it should respect local laws. The government added, “In India, we value freedom and we value criticism because it is part of our democracy.” “But freedom of expression is not absolute and it is subject to reasonable restrictions.”
Twitter is also important. Dealing with oppressive governments around the world, such as Russia, Myanmar and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.
“Over the years, Twitter has refused to comply with unfair laws, laws that do not meet international human rights standards,” said Jillian York, director of international freedom of expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “I’m definitely worried about that. [Musk] There is a lack of understanding of international human rights issues, and of ways in which state actors around the world can demand censorship on these platforms and use them for damaging purposes. “
Musk’s other business
If the latest deal goes through, Twitter will become just another piece of Musk’s growing business empire – including Tesla, SpaceX and Boring Company – some of which rely on governmental relations in the United States and abroad. ۔ It can also complicate Twitter’s approach to dealing with certain content battles.
Kaye says it can be difficult to predict how governments will put pressure on Musk, or how Musk will respond. “But given the fact that it has these huge economic interests in Tesla and SpaceX and the real implications of government relations in those interests, you might think that governments are saying to it: ‘We want this Tesla. But if you deal with the platform that way. ”
“Mr Musk is well aware of this. He is familiar with European laws relating to automotive, and will be rapidly adapting to the Digital Services Act,” Breton said, citing a new law recently passed by Europe. He added that the tech industry is enforcing new rules on how to deal with misinformation. And illegal content on social media.
