Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, said he is “giving serious thought” to starting his new social media platform, which sparked a Twitter frenzy. Musk tweeted about this development after a Twitter user questioned him about building a platform where “free speech is a top priority” and “propaganda is extremely limited.”
Elon Musk has criticized Twitter’s algorithm because, in his opinion, free speech is crucial to a “functioning democracy.” According to him, Twitter’s algorithm mutes’ are opinions from all walks of life.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The Tesla CEO dislikes that government officials are reviewing his tweets. After asking his Twitter followers if he should sell 10% of his Tesla stock, which caused prices to drop, the US Securities and Exchange Commission subpoenaed Musk in November 2021.
Musk charged the SEC with “harassment” and deliberately attempted to “chill” his right to free expression in February. The SEC stated last week that Musk’s move to dismiss the subpoena was procedurally flawed and without merit.
Even if a court invalidates a 2018 settlement with the SEC, the regulator informed a judge that Musk’s tweets about Tesla will still be a legitimate focus of a government inquiry. This implies that Elon Musk has to have the consent of other Tesla officials before tweeting about the business.
Elon Musk, the Protector of Free Speech
The Tesla CEO even polled users in March 2022, asking them whether they thought Twitter “rigorously adhered” to free speech ideals. According to the survey, which attracted over two million votes, 70% of people think Twitter does not properly uphold free speech. The Tesla owner tweeted again after the voting results, requesting advice and debating whether a new social media platform was the need of the hour.
It is important to note that Musk is well known for being a firm supporter of fundamental rights, especially free speech. One example is that Musk refused to restrict Russian media outlets on its Starlink satellite system, claiming freedom of expression.
Musk’s tweet only stirs speculation at this point, and the US-based entrepreneur may never launch his Elon Musk social media platform. Several personalities have criticized Twitter and other social media platforms’ algorithms, including former US President Donald Trump. Twitter claims that they take such steps when tweets promote violence or violate their terms of service.
Is Elon Musk Starting a Social Media Platform?
Elon Musk starting social media platform is unlikely to happen now because he has recently acquired Twitter.
Final Thoughts
In the future, if Elon Musk decides to move forward with building a new platform, he will be joining a growing list of digital firms that are presenting themselves as defenders of free speech. This may attract individuals who think their opinions are being silenced on websites like Facebook, Twitter, and perhaps YouTube.
