Thread
1. @elonmusk's commitment to free speech, thus far, mostly consists of him saying that he's committed to free speech
His ACTIONS tell a very different story
Musk has been very willing to squelch speech that threatens his economic interests
🧵
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
His ACTIONS tell a very different story
Musk has been very willing to squelch speech that threatens his economic interests
🧵
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
@elonmusk 2. When Chinese social media users began posting about alleged breaking problems with Teslas, Musk's company reportedly "asked Beijing to use its censorship powers to block some of the posts"
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
3. Twitter does not currently operate in China, but Tesla does.
What happens if China says Tesla will lose access to the Chinese market unless musk limits criticism of the Chinese government on Twitter?
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
What happens if China says Tesla will lose access to the Chinese market unless musk limits criticism of the Chinese government on Twitter?
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
4. At the center of meaningful free speech is a free press.
But when a reporter for Business Insider wrote a few critical stories about Musk, he repeatedly accused her (without underlying evidence) of committing crimes.
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
But when a reporter for Business Insider wrote a few critical stories about Musk, he repeatedly accused her (without underlying evidence) of committing crimes.
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
5. The most meaningful form of free speech for workers is speaking about collective action.
But, according to the NLRB, Musk's Tesla illegally fired a worker for union advocacy
On Twitter, Musk threatened to rescind stock options if workers unionized
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
But, according to the NLRB, Musk's Tesla illegally fired a worker for union advocacy
On Twitter, Musk threatened to rescind stock options if workers unionized
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
6. Musk has been eager to shut down speech from investors critical of his companies. He allegedly found the identity of a pseudo-anonymous investor & alerted their employer. To save their job, the investor was forced to stop writing critically about Tesla
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
7. We don't know how Musk will manage Twitter moving forward.
One thing we do know, however, is that the world's power and influence have become even more concentrated.
Musk will have virtually unlimited decision-making power.
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
One thing we do know, however, is that the world's power and influence have become even more concentrated.
Musk will have virtually unlimited decision-making power.
popular.info/p/musk-is-a-free-speech-absolutist?s=w
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