‘@elonmusk Blocked You’: Twitter Users Blocked By Him Call Out 'Free Speech Absolutist' Elon Musk
While Elon Musk calls himself a 'free speech absolutist' and has spoken against Twitter blocking handles, his own past behaviour on the site shows he has indiscriminately blocked users critical of him
New Delhi: Elon Musk has made it clear several times how strongly he feels about freedom of speech and expression, and his recent big business move towards taking over microblogging site Twitter is rooted in his belief that the popular social media platform is “failing to adhere to free speech principles”, which in turn “undermines democracy”.
The billionaire Tesla Inc CEO calls himself “a free speech absolutist”, and keeps a no-holds-barred attitude when it comes to expressing himself on Twitter.
Musk, however, has not really displayed his “free speech absolutist” self much on Twitter, the platform he is set to own and wants to “change”, when he has been at the receiving end of criticism or accusations. While he is against Twitter blocking handles of people exercising what he calls their right to “free speech”, his own past behaviour on the platform shows he has been unforgiving with users whose posts he dislikes, and indiscriminately blocks them.
After sealing the $44 billion Twitter takeover deal, however, he posted: “I wish even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”
Those blocked by him in the past are now calling out the soon-to-be Twitter owner on his platform.
“As your best, blocked critic, I will definitely remain on Twitter,” posted US author Alex Epstein, who has a verified handle on the platform.
Calling out Musk for blocking him, the industrial and energy policy commentator added: “Although it’s pretty weak to block someone for rigorously refuting your claims. Within your rights, but weak.”
Thanks, @elonmusk. As your best, blocked critic, I will definitely remain on Twitter.
— Alex Epstein (@AlexEpstein) April 25, 2022
And I am confident I am less likely to get kicked off with you owning Twitter.
Although it’s pretty weak to block someone for rigorously refuting your claims. Within your rights, but weak. pic.twitter.com/gaVkOWEPga
Epstein is not alone.
Matt Navarra, another verified handle on Twitter, said he was blocked by the Tesla CEO “years ago”. And Musk now buying Twitter “doesn’t bode well” for him, he posted.
Elon Musk blocked me on Twitter years ago
— Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) April 14, 2022
And now he has offered to buy Twitter.
This doesn’t bode well for me.
On Wednesday, non-governmental and non-profit organisation Public Citizen posted a screenshot that showed the verified handle was blocked by Musk.
“So much for being ‘committed’ to free speech,” the handle posted, taking a dig at the billionaire’s established stand on free speech.
FYI: We’re blocked by Elon Musk.
— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) April 26, 2022
So much for being “committed” to free speech. pic.twitter.com/iXsMQYq8v0
Berkeley Professor, Photographer Whose Image Musk Posted Without Credit Among Users He Blocked
In the past, Musk blocked University of California at Berkeley Professor Robert Reich, who is also a former US secretary of labor, reportedly after his 2020 tweet criticising him for “how he treated his Tesla workers”.
“Seems like an odd move for someone who describes himself as a ‘free speech absolutist’,” he wrote in a recent article in LAP Progressive.
“Musk’s real goal has nothing to do with the freedom of others. His goal is his own unconstrained freedom – the freedom to wield enormous power without having to be accountable to laws and regulations, to shareholders, or to market competition – which is why he’s dead set on owning Twitter,” Reich wrote in The Guardian.
Earlier, after the news of Musk trying to buy Twitter broke, he took to Twitter to call him out.
“So let me get this straight: Elon Musk thinks "cancel culture" undermines democracy and calls himself a "free speech absolutist," but he's threatened to sue bloggers and fired employees for speaking out about safety concerns?” Reich posted.
So let me get this straight: Elon Musk thinks "cancel culture" undermines democracy and calls himself a "free speech absolutist," but he's threatened to sue bloggers and fired employees for speaking out about safety concerns?
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 5, 2022
Musk’s past Twitter behaviour shows he may post anything he likes to, and also engages with those rooting for him, but doesn’t approve of posts that are critical of him.
Earlier this year, Musk reportedly blocked Twitter user Jack Sweeney, who had created a Twitter bot that tracked the Tesla CEO’s Gulfstream private jet and posted real-time updates of its location — all from data available in public domain.
The Guardian reported that Musk had offered Sweeney $5,000 to delete the bot, but the latter asked for $50,000, instead. Musk then refused to pay, and blocked Sweeney.
The Twitter bot, @ElonJet, is still active.
“...it remains unknown if Elon would take down ElonJet if he takes over Twitter,” Sweeney posted on April 25.
An update on Elon Musk & @ElonJet it remains unknown if Elon would take down ElonJet if he takes over Twitter.
— Jack Sweeney (@JxckSweeney) April 25, 2022
Photographer Richard Angle, who covers rocket launches for Teslarati, whose photo Musk had allegedly posted on Twitter without permission and credit in August 2019, was another user blocked by the billionaire.
According to reports, when the photographer spotted the image posted by Musk, he posted a sarcastic tweet to call him out.
“Well this is cool, my watermark is there!” Angle tweeted.
Well this is cool, my watermark is there! https://t.co/skebHdUlOl
— Richard Angle (@RDAnglePhoto) August 7, 2019
After other photographers started voicing their support for Angle, and asked Musk to respect copyright, the latter reportedly went on a blocking spree.
Refusing to apologise or give credit to Angle, he later chose to take down the tweet, before blocking the photographer.
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