Twitter Disbands Belief and Security Council

Twitter has at all times been a bit chaotic, however new CEO Elon Musk is taking it to a complete new stage. He is been making dramatic changes 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 is the latest information about Musk’s takeover of Twitter:

Dec 12: Twitter disbands Belief and Security Council

Twitter is dissolving its Belief and Security Council, which included professional 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A web page for the council is not accessible however an archived version confirmed the council was made up of the Anti-Defamation League, the Middle for Democracy and Expertise, the Trevor Undertaking and extra.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 sort out dangerous content material transferring ahead.

In an e-mail seen by varied media retailers together with CNN and The Washington Post, Twitter instructed members of its Belief and Security Council that it is reassessing one of the best ways to “convey exterior insights” into its “product and coverage improvement work.”

“As a part of this course of, we now have determined that the Belief and Security Council is just not one of the best construction to do that,” the e-mail mentioned, noting that it is dedicated to security on the platform. Twitter, which 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 monthly for Apple system customers and $8 monthly for many 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 critiques the account. The social community handled a flood of imposter accounts when it began revamping its verification system however Twitter made modifications to assist sort out the issue. A Twitter person’s account should be at the least 90 days outdated and make sure their cellphone quantity to subscribe to Twitter Blue.

The corporate additionally began rolling out gold badges for companies and plans to establish authorities organizations with grey test marks. Musk reiterated in a tweet that he plans to do away with blue test marks for customers beforehand verified for being notable, energetic and genuine in a number of months.

Dec. 10: Twitter Blue to relaunch, with blue test marks, ‘assessment’ 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 test mark as soon as their account “has been reviewed.” It did not, nonetheless, give particulars in regards to the vetting course of. The social community’s longstanding blue verification badge, that includes a test 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 test marks to impersonate others (together with Musk himself). The service was placed on maintain however will now, apparently, reappear. More details here.

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

Musk mentioned Thursday 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 known as shadow banning and allow them to attraction the state of affairs. 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 may present your true account standing,” Musk mentioned in a tweet on Thursday. “So you understand clearly in case you’ve been shadowbanned, the explanation why and learn how to attraction.”

Like different social media websites, Tiwtter has been accused of suppressing sure forms of political speech on the platform — a observe refered to as shadowbanning, through which a remark or submit is made seen solely to the person who created it.

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

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

Nevertheless, the report additionally famous that Twitter Blue would price $11 for individuals who subscribe via the iPhone app. The worth enhance looks as if a response to the 30% lower 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 “fully resumed” its advertising on Twitter, in accordance with Bloomberg. The corporate 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 dinner, with the Musk additionally tweeting his thanks to advertisers for returning to the location. 

Amazon paused a few of its promoting campaigns on Twitter, in accordance with tech outlet Platformer’s Zoë Schiffer. however is reportedly planning to increase ad 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 in opposition to 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, in accordance with analysis from the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate. 

Researchers in contrast the common 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 in opposition to Black folks was in 30,546 tweets, triple the speed earlier than Musk’s takeover, the analysis confirmed. Tweets with slurs in opposition to 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 unique tweets, quote tweets and retweets. The tweets the group analyzed got here from varied 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 instances a tweet was seen, has declined. The chart reveals 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 dinner 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 Retailer 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. “Amongst different issues, we resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter doubtlessly being faraway from the App Retailer. Tim was clear that Apple by no means thought-about doing so.”

Musk seems to be making an attempt to reassure manufacturers that is likely to be cautious about promoting on Twitter. Musk additionally retweeted a Twitter blog post that states model security remains to be one of many firm’s prime priorities and none of Twitter’s insurance policies has modified. However the firm has stopped implementing its guidelines in opposition to deceptive COVID-19 data, and Musk has mentioned he would grant “amnesty” to suspended accounts, permitting them to return to the location 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 inner market, told Musk that Twitter could be banned in the region 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, in accordance with the Monetary Instances.

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

Breton instructed Musk that Twitter had “enormous work forward” to adjust to European laws, in accordance with a readout of a video name between the 2 supplied by Breton’s workplace. The Fee is anticipated to conduct a “stress take a look at” at Twitter’s headquarters in 2023 “to focus on compliance even forward of authorized deadlines, and to organize for an in depth unbiased audit.”

Twitter restores Irish exec to job after court docket intervenes

Sinead McSweeney has been reinstated to her role as Twitter’s international vice chairman for public coverage, the Journal.ie reported.  She bought a brief injunction from Eire’s Excessive Court docket stopping the corporate from firing her.

McSweeney reasoned that she by no means resigned, however Twitter acted like she was 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 confirm 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 pretend cures or about harmful conspiracy theories relating to vaccines. However Twitter is not implementing its coverage in opposition to deceptive COVID-19 data as of Nov. 23. 

The corporate did so quietly, and the policy update 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, in accordance with The Verge and Platformer, in an try and keep away from Apple’s 30% lower of App Retailer purchases. This adopted Musk tweeting criticism of Apple. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Former exec condemns Musk administration type

Yoel Roth, Twitter’s former head of belief and security, said he left the company as a result of he knew Musk’s edict-focused management would ultimately allow a “disaster” like Twitter Blue verification to roll out regardless of his staff’s recommendation. Roth warned that the corporate is just not 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 staff

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

The staff, primarily based at Twitter’s Asian headquarters in Singapore, is chargeable for implementing 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 ads from major brands appeared on profiles that had 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

Within the first few weeks of Musk’s possession of Twitter, several high-profile Republican members of Congress saw their user profiles gain followers, whereas a few of their Democratic counterparts skilled a decline, in accordance with an evaluation by The Washington Submit. 

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 Submit reported. The newspaper mentioned it could not establish what brought on the change however identified it is according to a pattern that began when Musk introduced in April his intention to purchase Twitter.

Nov. 27: Twitter flooded with spam that obscured Chinese language 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-language Twitter accounts that had been inactive for months began tweeting hyperlinks to escort, porn and playing companies together with names of main Chinese language cities. That meant that when a Twitter person tried to seek for a metropolis in China, their search outcomes had been full of spam and so they had a more durable time discovering tweets in regards to the protests. The problem comes as Twitter has a smaller staff to deal with this downside. The Washington Submit reported that staff estimate that the corporate’s workforce has been slashed from 7,500 to 2,000 folks.

Researchers have been holding a detailed eye on the Chinese language spam. Stanford Web Observatory Director Alex Stamos tweeted that his staff is engaged on their very own evaluation. 

Nonetheless 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”

Should tweeted a collection 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 energetic minutes have not too long ago hit document highs. (The figures could not be independently verified.)  He additionally reiterated his ambitions to make Twitter into an “all the pieces app,” sharing mockups of options like encrypted direct messages, longform tweets and funds.

Musk additionally has personally known as the CEOs of main manufacturers that halted promoting on Twitter, according to the Financial Times, which cited an unnamed supply. Different manufacturers decreased their spending to a minimal fairly than chopping it off solely with a purpose to keep away from confrontation with Musk, the FT reported. 

Nov. 25: Shade-coded ‘verified’ test marks coming Dec. 2

Simply after midnight Friday, Musk tweeted his latest idea for verification, which is about to go reside on Dec. 2. Test mark badges will are available three colours: gold for firms, grey for governments and blue for people “celeb or not.” Musk is lumping each famous people and Twitter Blue subscribers collectively within the blue test bucket, although people may have a smaller secondary emblem 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 test 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 brought on mayhem. Then Twitter added gray check 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 brand new three-color scheme appears designed to scale back impersonations whereas preserving subscriber income. 

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

Later within the day Musk floated the potential for creating his personal smartphone if Apple and Google resolve as well Twitter from their respective platforms. “I actually 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 in regards to the state of affairs. 

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

Contemplating how stitched Elon is between Twitter, SpaceX and Tesla, moving into the cellphone enterprise won’t be one of the best thought. 

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

After tweeting a non-scientific poll a day earlier, Musk introduced the outcomes on Thursday. Greater than 72% of three.16 million respondents voted “sure” to the query: “Ought to Twitter provide a normal amnesty to suspended accounts, supplied 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.”

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

In the meantime, the Monetary Instances reported that Twitter disbanded its office 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 Companies Act, which units rules around content 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 normal amnesty to suspended accounts” so long as they have not damaged the regulation or engaged in “egregious spam.”

In a tweet, Musk polled customers in regards to the thought. It is unclear what number of accounts this potential change would cowl, however some customers have raised considerations that doing so would lead to 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 in opposition to hateful conduct, COVID misinformation and glorification of violence. He reinstated former US President Donald Trump’s account after polling customers in regards to the thought. 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 particular person 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. 

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

On the identical time, The Washington Submit and trade watchers Pathmatics and Media Issues For America reported that as many as half of Twitter’s prime 100 advertisers have either announced or seemingly stopped spending on the platform. 

Nov. 21: Much more account bans elevate, Musk holds off on paid verification relaunch 

Nonetheless 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 policy. However 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 via 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 test 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 unique colour test mark for organizations versus people. 

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

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

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

Individually, the FIFA World Cup kicked off. The occasion usually spurs spikes in Twitter utilization, as folks all over the world converge to enjoy real-time updates and posts associated to its matches. Within the flood of utilization, worries persevered that Twitter is likely to be tripped up by outages and disruptions because it copes with working with a fraction of its typical workers. However the first day of the match 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 permanent 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% in opposition to.

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

Individually, Bloomberg reported that Musk is contemplating firing extra staff on the gross sales and partnership aspect. He reportedly requested leaders, together with Robin Wheeler, the top of gross sales and advertising and marketing, to fireplace 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 return to the workplace. Beforehand banned accounts get reinstated

Twitter staff had been locked out of the corporate’s headquarters, however Musk reportedly despatched an e-mail asking for some software program engineers to go again into the workplace, in accordance with Bloomberg. Musk requested the coders to fulfill with him and supply examples of their coding work with a purpose to assist him higher perceive the software program. 

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

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

Musk adopted that tweet with one other saying conservative media character Jordan Peterson, right-wing satire web site The Babylon Bee and comic Kathy Griffin may have their banned accounts reinstated. Twitter booted Peterson and The Babylon Bee from the platform earlier within the yr 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 known 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 clarify the necessity for content material moderation was not solely necessary to maintain advertisers comfortable, but it surely additionally was wanted to appease app retailer house owners and authorities entities, such because the European Union, which have legal guidelines in opposition to hate speech. 

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

Twitter customers are nonetheless fearful in regards to the platform’s potential loss of life, 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 at the least 1,200 staff resigned on Nov. 17 after Musk gave them a alternative to remain or go away. 

Consumer security is one other massive concern on Twitter. CNN reporter Oliver Darcy tweeted that the White House is asking Twitter to clarify the way it’s safeguarding “the security of People’ on-line information.” The White Home 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 elements of the world. 

Fears a few potential collapse of the location got here after hundreds of employees determined to go away the corporate earlier within the day. One former Twitter worker instructed The Washington Post that there is not any longer a “skeleton crew manning the system.” 

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

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

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

As much as 75% of remaining staff selected the exit, according to Fortune and Bloomberg, creating confusion about what number of remaining folks would have entry to the workplaces. The Verge reported that those that left included some “legendary” engineers and coders.

Across the identical time, the corporate apparently locked the doorways to its San Francisco headquarters till Nov. 21, in accordance with tech newsletter Platformer. 

Twitter, which can 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, at the least considerably. An e-mail despatched to Twitter staff on Nov. 9 mentioned distant work could be banned, however an e-mail to staff on Nov. 17 said that distant work is feasible if authorized, in accordance with a report from Bloomberg. 

“All that’s required for approval is that your supervisor takes duty for making certain that you’re making a wonderful contribution,” Musk mentioned within the e-mail. He additionally desires staff to have in-person staff conferences at the least 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 am listening to he’s having conferences w prime engineers to persuade them to remain.

Seems 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 group of Democratic senators despatched a letter to Lina Khan, the chairwoman of the US Federal Commerce Fee. Outlined within the letter are what the legislators described as “alarming steps” taken by Musk together with new options which were utilized by scammers, a rise in hate speech and the removing of cybersecurity executives throughout 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 commission in 2011. 

“We urge the Fee to vigorously oversee its consent decree with Twitter and to convey enforcement actions in opposition to 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 many 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 Could 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?

Begin 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 outline his vision for “Twitter 2.0,” which would require an “extraordinarily hardcore” tradition, with lengthy hours and excessive depth, in accordance with Pragmatic Engineer author (and former Uber engineer) Gergely Orosz. Workers should comply with this on Thursday or go away with three months of severance pay. 

Scoop: Elon Musk simply despatched an e-mail to all workers outlining “Twitter 2.0″, writing it’s going to”should be extraordinarily hardcore”. Lengthy hours, excessive depth.

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

— Gergely Orosz (@GergelyOrosz) November 16, 2022

Throughout testimony Wednesday over a Tesla shareholder case alleging that his wage as CEO is extreme, Musk additionally reportedly instructed the court docket that he doesn’t wish to be CEO of Tesla, and that his chief executive leadership of Twitter is a temporary arrangement.

“I anticipate to scale back my time at Twitter and discover any person else to run Twitter over time,” he mentioned, in accordance with CNBC.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

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

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

Workers who criticized Elon Musk in Twitter’s Slack channels were fired overnight via email, Platformer’s Casey Newton mentioned in a tweet. They had been apparently instructed their “latest conduct has violated firm coverage.” It is unclear how many individuals had been affected.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 14: Musk desires higher Twitter video help

Talking through video hyperlink, Musk instructed enterprise leaders throughout the G20 summit in Bali that he desires to see Twitter support more longer-form video to herald extra content material creators. He additionally famous that he is been working “on the absolute most quantity … from morning til evening, seven days per week” because the acquisition.

Nov. 13: SpaceX reportedly buys main Twitter advert bundle

SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace firm, ordered a Twitter “takeover” advertising package for its satellite tv for pc web service Starlink, CNBC reported. This can 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 because of the upheaval at Twitter. 

SpaceX did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 12: Hundreds of contract staff seemingly terminated

Twitter lower hundreds of contract staff, in accordance with Platformer’s Casey Newton, Axios and CNBC, with Newton reporting that round 4,400 of Twitter’s roughly 5,500 contractors had been affected. Most did not get any discover and came upon as a result of they misplaced entry to the corporate’s e-mail and inside communications techniques, Newton reported.

The corporate did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 11: Twitter Blue subscription choice vanishes

The choice to enroll in the $8 a month subscription service Twitter Blue is no longer available on Twitter’s iOS app, as earlier reported by The Verge. The shift comes days after the service launched for Apple gadgets and previous to its Android launch. Trying to subscribe on desktop directs you to the iOS app.

CNET can affirm 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. 

“Thanks on your curiosity!” it reads. “Twitter Blue might be accessible in your nation sooner or later. Please test again later.”

It is unclear why the corporate paused signups for the service, however numerous customers reportedly purchased verification to impersonate brands and celebrities. An internal note posted on Slack mentioned it stopped folks from subscribing “to assist handle impersonation points,” in accordance with 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 remote work until he personally authorized it, in accordance with Bloomberg, whereas The New York Instances reported that he instructed staff “absolutely the prime precedence is finding and suspending any verified bots/trolls/spam.”

An legal professional on Twitter’s privateness staff posted a message within the firm’s Slack warning that Musk’s deal with monetizing its customers is making him take dangerous steps, The Verge reported. It is apparently at explicit threat of incurring billions in fines from the Federal Commerce Fee within the wake of a Could settlement relating to the use of personal info to target ads.

Twitter’s chief privateness officer, Damien Kieran; Chief Info Safety 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 instructed staff chapter was a chance, Bloomberg reported, citing an individual accustomed to 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, in accordance with 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 test marks

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

In an hour-long reside 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 manner 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 business entities first. Twitter additionally began permitting folks so as to add blue test 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 pretend accounts. Twitter mentioned it could droop accounts engaged in misleading techniques and impersonation.

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

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

He signaled, although, that he is not planning to decelerate on the subject of altering Twitter. 

“The speed of evolution of Twitter might be an immense step change in comparison with what it has been previously,” he mentioned. “, if nothing else, I’m a technologist and I could make expertise go quick.”

Nov. 6: Paid test 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, in accordance with The New York Times.

Impersonators get the boot

Musk warned that any Twitter account participating 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 test marks, listening to from Dorsey

Pay-for-verification plan reveals up in iOS replace

Model notes for the newest iteration of Twitter’s app for the Apple iPhone confirmed up within the App Retailer, with a What’s New part that pointed to the verification characteristic. The notes inform customers that “beginning immediately” in case you “enroll now” for an $8-a-month Twitter Blue subscription, “your account will get a blue test mark, identical to the celebrities, firms, and politicians you already observe.” It seems, although, that this system hasn’t really kicked in but. Learn extra here.

Dorsey weighs in

With information reviews 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 put blame on himself.

“I personal the duty for why everyone seems to be on this state of affairs: I grew the corporate measurement too shortly. I apologize for that,” Dorsey tweeted. He additionally known as Twitter staffers previous and current “resilient” and said, “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 support of Musk taking on the corporate, however he additionally mentioned that in precept, he thought nobody ought to personal or run Twitter and that it ought to as an alternative 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 Normal Motors, meals firm General Mills and pharmaceutical corporation 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 establish the activists. Within the tweet, Musk additionally mentioned Twitter hasn’t modified its content material moderation insurance policies. 

Musk additionally made an look on the Baron Funding Convention, 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 started laying off employees. Musk later tweeted that there was “no alternative when the corporate is shedding over $4M/day.” With out specifying how many individuals had been laid off or what proportion of the workforce, Musk added they had been “supplied 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 in regards to the layoffs.

“For starters, there is not any technique to maintain election integrity in place in case you are chopping capability to do the monitoring in #TwitterLayoffs,” tweeted Rashad Robinson, president of racial justice group Shade 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 spend money on content material moderation. Companions listed on the coalition’s web site embody the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Public Citizen, and the Union of Involved Scientists.

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

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

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

Reuters, citing two sources accustomed to the matter and an inside Slack message, reported that Musk directed Twitter’s staff to seek out greater than $1 billion in infrastructure price financial savings.

The corporate is taking a look at different methods to earn money exterior of promoting, together with “paywalled” movies and paid direct messages, The New York Times reported, citing two folks with information of the matter and inside paperwork.

Musk is already making modifications 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 instructed 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 giant firms to provide at the least 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 instructed the information outlet.

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

In a single state of affairs for lowering Twitter’s workforce being thought-about, laid off staff might be supplied 60 days’ value of severance pay. Twitter customers have been bracing for layoffs since Musk introduced his bid for Twitter in April. One report indicated that Musk planned to cut 75% of jobs at Twitter.

Nov. 1: Musk suggests charging for verification

In a sequence of tweets, Musk floated the concept that Twitter charge $8 per month for a verified blue check mark as a part of its subscription plan. The corporate’s subscription service, often known as Twitter Blue, at the moment prices $5 monthly however would not embody verification as a perk.

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

Musk tweeted that the worth could 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 submit lengthy video & audio.” He additionally mentioned customers would see “half as many advertisements.” 

Earlier within the day, The Wall Road Journal reported that Twitter Blue subscribers will lose access to ad-free articles from publishers like Vox, the Los Angeles Instances and Insider. There have been varied reviews of various costs for a Twitter Blue subscription, with the corporate additionally reportedly having thought-about rising the subscription worth to $20 a month.

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

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

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

— Sarah Personette (@SEP) November 1, 2022

In the meantime, 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’s the company’s CEO via a securities filing. Different modifications to Twitter’s management are additionally underway. A associated securities filing reveals 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, remains to be getting questions on whether or not he’ll observe via 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 could be minting cash!” Musk tweeted. 

Twitter additionally limited some Trust and Safety employee access to internal tools, Bloomberg reported, curbing their capability to average content material and handle misinformation forward of next week’s US elections. They’ll apparently nonetheless edit or take away posts that would lead to real-world hurt.

“That is precisely what we (or any firm) ought to be doing within the midst of a company transition to scale back alternatives for insider threat. We’re nonetheless implementing 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 test mark modifications and Vine revival, tweets misinformation

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

Twitter additionally reportedly plans to cost $20 monthly for its Twitter Blue subscription service, and verified customers would lose their blue test mark if they do not achieve this 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 test 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 Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco. The article got here from a web site known as the Santa Monica Observer. Reality-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 making an attempt 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 submit a ton of tweets that embody slurs and different derogatory phrases.” He added that “greater than 50,000 tweets repeatedly utilizing a specific slur got here from simply 300 accounts.”

“Backside 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 suppose we now have,” he tweeted.

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

Backside 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 suppose 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 change into a “free-for-all hellscape” however has additionally mentioned that he is “in opposition to censorship that goes far past the regulation.”

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

Twitter might 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 filing on Oct. 28 additionally famous that Twitter’s inventory is being delisted on the New York Inventory Change. Twitter, a publicly traded firm, turned a personal 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 carried out 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.