Coverage of Musk: Twitter bans journalists’ accounts

Twitter has blocked the accounts of journalists from well-known media – without concrete justification. You had reported on Twitter and its new boss Musk. Flight data from Musk’s private jet apparently also plays a role.

Twitter has blocked the accounts of several journalists covering the social media platform and its new owner, Elon Musk. Reporters from the New York Times, the Washington Post and CNN are affected. The company initially did not give a reason for this.

The reporters were told they had violated Twitter’s policies. The sudden suspension of reporters followed Musk’s decision on Wednesday to permanently ban an account that had been using publicly available data to track his private jet’s flights. The flight details are publicly available and can also be obtained from a number of websites.

Musk: The same ‘doxxing’ rules apply to journalists

Twitter also changed platform rules on Wednesday to ban the sharing of someone’s current location data without their consent. Several of the reporters whose accounts were banned had reported on this new policy and Musk’s rationale for it. This included allegations by Musk about a stalking incident involving his family in Los Angeles on Tuesday night.

Twitter boss Musk wrote in tweets: The same ‘doxxing’ rules would apply to journalists as to everyone else. “Criticizing myself all day is totally fine, but doxxing my real-time location and endangering my family isn’t.” “Doxxing” means posting someone’s identity, address or other personal details online.

CNN: “Worrying, but not surprising”

CNN said the “impulsive and unwarranted suspension of a number of reporters, including CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan, is worrying but not surprising.” Twitter was asked for an explanation, “and we will reevaluate our relationship (with the company) based on the response.”

Another journalist banned from Twitter, Matt Binder of tech media Mashable, said he was banned Thursday night immediately after sharing a screenshot of a post CNN reporter O’Sullivan published before he was banned.

The screenshot showed a statement from Los Angeles Police Department sent to various media outlets and news outlets earlier on Thursday. It was about the fact that the police were in contact with Musk’s representatives about the alleged stalking incident, but that no crime report had yet been issued.

“I have not shared any location data according to the new Twitter rules,” said Binder in an email. He also did not refer to the account that published location data from Musk’s private jet or to other accounts that published location data. He was highly critical of Musk, but never violated Twitter policies.

Chaos at Twitter since takeover

The Committee to Protect Journalists has expressed concern about the lockdowns. If it is confirmed that this is retaliation for journalists’ work, it would be a serious violation of journalists’ right to publish news without fear of reprisals.

Musk – currently the second richest person in the world behind French luxury goods mogul Bernard Arnault – has thrown Twitter into chaos since the takeover. He fired top management and around half the workforce and unlocked suspended accounts like that of former US President Donald Trump.

Musk presents himself as a radical advocate of the right to free speech. Critics fear that under his leadership, hate speech and misinformation could skyrocket on Twitter. According to media reports, Musk recently dissolved an advisory board that Twitter founded six years ago to fight hate messages, child pornography and discrimination. Numerous large advertisers have already turned away from Twitter.