Twitter has at all times been considerably chaotic, however new CEO Elon Musk is taking it to a complete new degree. 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.
This is the newest information about Musk’s takeover of Twitter:
Dec. 17: Journalists’ Accounts Start Reappearing
On Friday night time, Musk tweeted that accounts suspended in relation to his dispute with @ElonJet would have their suspensions lifted, based mostly on a public ballot he’d performed on Twitter. As of Saturday morning, @ElonJet remained suspended however some journalists’ accounts had reappeared, together with Twitter rival Mastodon’s. CNN reported Saturday that although the journalists’ accounts had 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 Saturday for touch upon the CNN report. The abrupt suspensions and Musk’s conflicting remarks have made it even tougher to determine how Twitter’s content material moderation works — more on that here.
Dec. 15: Musk suspends journalists on Twitter
Late Thursday afternoon, Twitter abruptly suspended the accounts of several tech journalists, together with reporters for CNN, The New York Instances and The Washington Submit. Lots of the reporters had not too long ago tweeted about Musk’s dispute with the @ElonJet account, which tracked his non-public airplane utilizing publicly out there knowledge. That account had been suspended on Wednesday, and Musk Tweeted Thursday 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 Skilled 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 issues. The vice chairman for values and transparency for the European Fee referred to as the suspensions “worrying.” An account that helped Twitter customers enroll at rival social community Mastodon was additionally suspended Thursday. ElonJet has an account on Mastodon. Read the full story on the suspensions here.
Dec. 14: @ElonJet account will get suspended
The Twitter account @ElonJet, which tracked Elon Musk’s non-public airplane utilizing publicly out there flight monitoring knowledge, was suspended Wednesday. This system was created by College of Central Florida scholar 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 other flight tracker accounts.
Final month, Musk stated his dedication to free speech was so sturdy that the account wouldn’t be banned regardless that he thought-about it a “direct private security danger.”
In a tweet Wednesday, 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 information and media policy web page says dwell location info like journey routes is a violation of its coverage. It seems this can be a change that occurred late Tuesday or Wednesday: An archived model of the web page discovered on Wayback Machine and dated Dec. 13 does not embrace this info.
Sweeney’s program stays out there on Fb, Instagram and different social media. It additionally posted on open-source social network Mastodon for the primary time Wednesday.
Neither Twitter nor Sweeney responded to requests for remark.
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 equivalent to on-line security, harassment, baby sexual exploitation and different essential matters.
A web page for the council is now not out there however an archived version confirmed the council was made up of the Anti-Defamation League, the Heart for Democracy and Expertise, the Trevor Mission and extra. The transfer comes after three members of the council resigned due to consumer security issues and it raises questions on how Twitter will correctly sort out dangerous content material shifting ahead.
In an electronic mail seen by numerous media retailers together with CNN and The Washington Post, Twitter advised members of its Belief and Security 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’ve determined that the Belief and Security Council isn’t the perfect construction to do that,” the e-mail stated, 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 monthly for Apple gadget customers and $8 monthly for individuals who use the net model of the platform. Twitter Blue consists of options equivalent to a strategy 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 adjustments to assist sort out the issue. A Twitter consumer’s account have to be not less than 90 days previous and ensure 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 examine marks. Musk reiterated in a tweet that he plans to eliminate blue examine marks for customers beforehand verified for being notable, energetic and genuine in a number of months.
Dec. 10: Twitter Blue to relaunch, with blue examine marks, ‘evaluation’ course of
In a tweet thread, the social community stated 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 details here.
Dec. 8: Musk guarantees to inform Twitter customers if they have been shadow banned
Musk stated 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 referred to as shadow banning and allow them to enchantment the state of affairs. The announcement got here as journalist Bari Weiss revealed screenshots of firm paperwork suggesting Twitter workers downplayed conservative voices on the platform.
“Twitter is engaged on a software program replace that can present your true account standing,” Musk stated in a tweet on Thursday. “So you realize clearly for those who’ve been shadowbanned, the rationale why and methods to enchantment.”
Like different social media websites, Tiwtter has been accused of suppressing sure kinds of political speech on the platform — a follow refered to as shadowbanning, by which a remark or publish is made seen solely to the consumer who created it.
Dec. 7: Twitter will reportedly enhance Blue pricing on Apple units
Twitter advised workers that it intends to cost $7 a month for its Twitter Blue premium service if subscribers pay for it on-line, according to The Data. Musk beforehand urged it will price $8 a month.
Nonetheless, the report additionally famous that Twitter Blue would price $11 for individuals who subscribe by 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 line 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 positioning.
Amazon paused a few of its promoting campaigns on Twitter, in line 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 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, in line with 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 knowledge 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 internationally however included solely these in English.
Musk disputed the declare on Twitter, posting a chart masking Oct. 17 to Nov. 30. He stated knowledge 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 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 stated in a separate tweet. “Amongst different issues, we resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter probably being faraway from the App Retailer. Tim was clear that Apple by no means thought-about doing so.”
Musk seems to be attempting to reassure manufacturers that is perhaps cautious about promoting on Twitter. Musk additionally retweeted a Twitter blog post that states model security remains to be one of many firm’s high priorities and none of Twitter’s insurance policies has modified. However the firm has stopped imposing its guidelines towards deceptive COVID-19 info, and Musk has stated 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, told Musk that Twitter could be banned in the region or hit with a tremendous of as much as 6% of its world turnover if the corporate does not keep on with the EU’s guidelines on content material moderation, in line with the Monetary Instances.
Twitter should adhere to the Digital Services Act, stated Breton, who apparently advised Musk he should finish his “arbitrary” method to reinstating banned customers, should pursue disinformation “aggressively” and should conform to an “in depth impartial audit” of Twitter by subsequent 12 months. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.
Breton advised Musk that Twitter had “enormous work forward” to adjust to European laws, in line with a readout of a video name between the 2 supplied by Breton’s workplace. The Fee is predicted 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 impartial audit.”
Twitter restores Irish exec to job after court docket intervenes
Sinead McSweeney has been reinstated to her role as Twitter’s world vice chairman for public coverage, the Journal.ie reported. She obtained 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 now not an worker on the firm after she did not reply to Musk’s Nov. 16 electronic mail. The e-mail reportedly demanded that each 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 faux cures or about harmful conspiracy theories relating to vaccines. However Twitter is now not imposing its coverage towards deceptive COVID-19 info 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 line 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 fashion
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 isn’t 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 baby security staff
After widespread layoffs and resignations, a staff tasked with figuring out and eradicating baby sexual abuse content material from the positioning now has only one staffer, in line with Wired. It wasn’t instantly clear how many individuals had been on the staff beforehand, however Wired stated it had recognized 4 Singapore-based baby security specialists who stated they left the corporate in November.
The staff, based mostly at Twitter’s Asian headquarters in Singapore, is liable for imposing the corporate’s ban on baby sexual abuse materials — an ongoing and irritating battle for the social community. Twitter, which makes most of its cash from promoting promoting, stated in September it was investigating how ads from major brands appeared on profiles that had been soliciting or promoting baby 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 line 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 impartial Sen. Bernie Sanders all misplaced about 100,000 Twitter followers, the Submit reported. The newspaper stated it could not establish what induced the change however identified it is consistent with 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 providers together with names of main Chinese language cities. That meant that when a Twitter consumer tried to seek for a metropolis in China, their search outcomes had been stuffed with spam and so they had a more durable time discovering tweets concerning the protests. The problem comes as Twitter has a smaller staff to deal with this downside. The Washington Submit reported that workers 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 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 knowledge 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 report highs. (The figures could not be independently verified.) He additionally reiterated his ambitions to make Twitter into an “all the things 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, according to the Financial Times, which cited an unnamed supply. Different manufacturers diminished their spending to a minimal relatively than slicing it off solely to be able to keep away from confrontation with Musk, the FT reported.
Nov. 25: Shade-coded ‘verified’ examine marks coming Dec. 2
Simply after midnight Friday, Musk tweeted his latest idea for verification, which is about to go dwell on Dec. 2. Verify mark badges will are available in three colours: gold for corporations, grey for governments and blue for people “celeb or not.” Musk is lumping each famous people and Twitter Blue subscribers collectively within the blue examine bucket, although people may have a smaller secondary emblem displaying “they belong to an org if verified as such by that org,” Musk defined in a follow-up tweet.
Musk has been fidgeting 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 induced 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 cut back impersonations whereas preserving subscriber income.
Musk additionally famous that “all verified accounts might be manually authenticated earlier than examine prompts,” although it is unclear whether or not this might be achieved 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 clarification might 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 isn’t any different selection, 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 cell platform that will get across the Apple App Retailer and Google Play Retailer is extremely troublesome, requiring a mixture of customized {hardware} and software program.
Contemplating how stitched Elon is between Twitter, SpaceX and Tesla, stepping into the cellphone enterprise won’t be the perfect thought.
Nov. 24: Musk publicizes ‘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 supply 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 operating for this 12 months’s Ebenezer Scrooge award after reportedly firing roughly 50 engineers proper earlier than Thanksgiving, in line 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 isn’t passable.” Twitter engineers had earlier been advised to ship code samples to Musk. His “hardcore” method to work is broadly identified inside Silicon Valley, together with at his different corporations 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 stated 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 may 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 concerning the thought. It is unclear what number of accounts this potential change would cowl, however some customers have raised issues 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 towards hateful conduct, COVID misinformation and glorification of violence. He reinstated former US President Donald Trump’s account after polling customers concerning the thought. Twitter suspended Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots as a result of the platform feared his tweets may 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 features. 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 may 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 consists of refusing to pay distributors for excellent payments. The associated fee cuts are focusing on infrastructure, journey bills, software program providers and actual estates, the Instances reviews, citing a number of unnamed sources.
On the identical time, The Washington Submit and business watchers Pathmatics and Media Issues For America reported that as many as half of Twitter’s high 100 advertisers have either announced or seemingly stopped spending on the platform.
Nov. 21: Much more account bans carry, 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 by its Twitter Blue subscription service till “there may be 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 distinct shade examine 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. Often called Ye after altering his identify 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 risk.
Mission Veritas, a conservative activist group identified for hidden-camera movies, was additionally reinstated, after being suspended final 12 months for disclosing folks’s private info, 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 perhaps 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 must 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 might be reinstated.” An account with the acquainted identify @realDonaldTrump confirmed up on the positioning. 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 workers on the gross sales and partnership aspect. He reportedly requested leaders, together with Robin Wheeler, the pinnacle of gross sales and advertising and marketing, to fireside extra workers. 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 electronic mail.
Nov. 18: Musk asks engineers to return to the workplace. Beforehand banned accounts get reinstated
Twitter workers had been locked out of the corporate’s headquarters, however Musk reportedly despatched an electronic mail asking for some software program engineers to go again into the workplace, in line with 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 won’t have “freedom of attain.”
“Damaging/hate tweets might be max deboosted & demonetized, so no advertisements or different income to Twitter,” he stated. “You will not discover the tweet except you particularly search it out, which is not any totally different from remainder of web.”
Screenshot by CNET
Musk adopted that tweet with one other saying conservative media persona Jordan Peterson, right-wing satire web site The Babylon Bee and comic Kathy Griffin could 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, stated 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 issues his remarks may 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 clarify the necessity for content material moderation was not solely essential to maintain advertisers glad, 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 must be reinstated.
Twitter customers are nonetheless frightened 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 workers resigned on Nov. 17 after Musk gave them a selection to remain or go away.
Person 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 Individuals’ on-line knowledge.” 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 workers 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 couple of potential collapse of the positioning got here after hundreds of employees determined to depart the corporate earlier within the day. One former Twitter worker advised 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 stated.
Musk tweeted a meme with Twitter’s emblem on a headstone.
The remaining 3,500 or so workers who had been left at Twitter after 1000’s 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 workers selected the exit, according to 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.
Across the identical time, the corporate apparently locked the doorways to its San Francisco headquarters till Nov. 21, in line with tech newsletter 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 electronic mail despatched to Twitter workers on Nov. 9 stated distant work could be banned, however an electronic mail to workers on Nov. 17 acknowledged that distant work is feasible if accepted, in line with a report from Bloomberg.
“All that’s required for approval is that your supervisor takes accountability for guaranteeing that you’re making a wonderful contribution,” Musk stated within the electronic mail. He additionally needs workers to have in-person staff 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 electronic mail enjoyable distant working from the previous draconian coverage.
I am listening to he’s having conferences w high engineers to persuade them to remain.
Appears like taking part in hardball doesn’t work. Ofc it does 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, probably placing customers’ private knowledge in danger.
The senators level out that these actions may place the corporate in violation of the FTC’s consent decree to guard this knowledge 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 deliver enforcement actions towards any breaches or enterprise practices which can be unfair or misleading, together with bringing civil penalties and imposing legal responsibility on particular person Twitter executives the place applicable,” the senators stated.
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 Might when the FTC discovered the corporate used safety knowledge like cellphone numbers and electronic 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 line with Pragmatic Engineer author (and former Uber engineer) Gergely Orosz. Staff should conform to this on Thursday or go away with three months of severance pay.
Scoop: Elon Musk simply despatched an electronic mail to all workers outlining “Twitter 2.0″, writing it’s going to”must be extraordinarily hardcore”. Lengthy hours, excessive depth.
Individuals have to click on “sure” to verify 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 advised the court docket that he doesn’t need to be CEO of Tesla, and that his chief executive leadership of Twitter is a temporary arrangement.
“I anticipate to cut back my time at Twitter and discover someone else to run Twitter over time,” he stated, in line with 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 isn’t any indication that he obtained 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 ended in May 2021, and he left its board of directors in Might 2022.
Nov. 15: Staff fired for talking about Musk on Slack
Staff who criticized Elon Musk in Twitter’s Slack channels were fired overnight via email, Platformer’s Casey Newton stated in a tweet. They had been apparently advised 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 needs larger Twitter video help
Talking by way of video hyperlink, Musk advised enterprise leaders in the course of the G20 summit in Bali that he needs to see Twitter support more 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 night time, seven days every week” for the reason that acquisition.
Nov. 13: SpaceX reportedly buys main Twitter advert package deal
SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace firm, ordered a Twitter “takeover” advertising package for its satellite tv for pc web service Starlink, CNBC reported. This may 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 workers seemingly terminated
Twitter lower 1000’s of contract workers, in line 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 discovered as a result of they misplaced entry to the corporate’s electronic mail and inner communications methods, 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 units and previous to its Android launch. Trying 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 provides you an error message.
Making an attempt to subscribe to Twitter Blue on the iOS app resulted on this message on Nov. 11.
Twitter/Screenshot by CNET
“Thanks to your curiosity!” it reads. “Twitter Blue might be out there in your nation sooner or later. Please examine again later.”
It is unclear why the corporate paused signups for the service, however a lot of customers reportedly purchased verification to impersonate brands and celebrities. An internal note posted on Slack stated it stopped folks from subscribing “to assist deal with impersonation points,” in line 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 workers on Nov. 9, warning that “the financial image forward is dire.” He banned remote work except he personally accepted it, in line with Bloomberg, whereas The New York Instances reported that he advised staff “absolutely the high 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 specific danger of incurring billions in fines from the Federal Commerce Fee within the wake of a Might settlement relating to the use of personal info to target ads.
Twitter’s chief privateness officer, Damien Kieran; Chief Data 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 advised workers chapter was a risk, Bloomberg reported, citing an individual conversant in 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 line 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 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 dwell audio chat on Twitter later within the day, Musk stated the brand new labels are an “aesthetic nightmare when wanting on the Twitter feed” and “one other means 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 stated it will droop accounts engaged in misleading ways and impersonation.
Within the audio chat, Musk mentioned Twitter’s plans for a content material moderation council and choices by corporations to quickly pause their promoting campaigns on Twitter.
“I do not assume having hate speech subsequent to an advert is nice. Clearly,” he stated. Musk additionally stated 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 relating to altering Twitter.
“The speed of evolution of Twitter might be an immense step change in comparison with what it has been up to now,” he stated. “You recognize, 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, in line with 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
Model notes for the most recent 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 right this moment” for those who “enroll now” for an $8-a-month Twitter Blue subscription, “your account will get a blue examine mark, identical to the celebrities, corporations, 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 accountability 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 referred to 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 stated 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 ‘huge drop’ in income
Since Musk’s takeover, a number of main advertisers, equivalent to Tesla rival Basic Motors, meals firm General Mills and pharmaceutical corporation Pfizer, have quickly paused their advert campaigns on Twitter. Musk tweeted that Twitter has had a “huge 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 stated 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 selection 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 “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 is not any strategy to maintain election integrity in place in case you are slicing 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 can be urging main advertisers to pause spending and spend money on content material moderation. Companions listed on the coalition’s web site embrace 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 issues that advertisements may seem alongside problematic content material on the platform.
Nov. 3: Musk seems to be for methods to chop prices, lawsuit filed
Musk needs to chop prices and make Twitter much less depending on promoting.
Reuters, citing two sources conversant in the matter and an inner Slack message, reported that Musk directed Twitter’s staff to search out greater than $1 billion in infrastructure price financial savings.
The corporate is taking a look at different methods to make cash 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 advised workers in an electronic 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 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 be told of their destiny by Nov. 4, sources advised the information outlet.
Musk additionally plans to reverse the corporate’s current work-from-anywhere coverage, requiring remaining workers to report back to an workplace, the unidentified sources stated.
In a single state of affairs for lowering Twitter’s workforce being thought-about, laid off staff might be provided 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 Twitter charge $8 per month for a verified blue check mark as a part of its subscription plan. The corporate’s subscription service, referred to as Twitter Blue, at present prices $5 monthly however does not embrace verification as a perk.
Twitter at present does 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 energetic.” 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 value 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 “potential to publish lengthy video & audio.” He additionally stated 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 numerous reviews of various costs for a Twitter Blue subscription, with the corporate additionally reportedly having thought-about rising the subscription value to $20 a month.
It is unclear from Musk’s tweets if verified customers must pay for a subscription or lose their blue examine 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 night time.
— Sarah Personette (@SEP) November 1, 2022
In the meantime, Twitter stated 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 by a securities filing. Different adjustments to Twitter’s management are additionally underway. A associated securities filing 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 stated 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 by on that. Twitter booted Trump from its platform in 2021 following the lethal US Capitol Hill riot due to issues that his remarks may 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 potential to average content material and deal with misinformation forward of next week’s US elections. They will apparently nonetheless edit or take away posts that might lead to real-world hurt.
“That is precisely what we (or any firm) must 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 monthly 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 need to maintain their blue examine marks.
Musk additionally tweeted after which deleted a hyperlink to an article with a baseless conspiracy concept 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 referred to as the Santa Monica Observer. Truth-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 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 assume we’ve,” he tweeted.
Let’s speak 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 assume we’ve.
— Yoel Roth (@yoyoel) October 30, 2022
Oct. 28: Twitter to kind content material moderation council
Advocacy teams have raised issues that Musk’s management over Twitter would permit extra hate speech and misinformation to floor on the platform. Musk has vowed publicly he does not need Twitter to develop into a “free-for-all hellscape” however has additionally stated that he is “towards censorship that goes far past the regulation.”
Musk stated the corporate would kind a content material moderation council with “broadly various viewpoints.” The corporate will not make any main content material choices or account reinstatements earlier than the council convenes, he tweeted.
Twitter might be forming a content material moderation council with broadly various viewpoints.
No main content material choices 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 Trade. 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 achieved proper, can delight, entertain and inform you.”
Musk met with workers all through the week, carried a sink into Twitter’s headquarters as a photograph op and altered his profile to “Chief Twit” earlier than information broke that the deal had been accomplished.
CNET workers contributed to this report.
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