Entrepreneur Elon Musk said late on Saturday that he is giving “serious thought” to launching a new social media platform that will be transparent with its algorithms, prioritize free speech, and will keep propaganda to a minimum.
Musk, who is the co-founder of Tesla and founder of SpaceX, made the remarks in response to a tweet that asked, “Would you consider building a new social media platform, @elonmusk?”
“One that would consist an open source algorithm, one where free speech and adhering to free speech is given top priority, one where propaganda is very minimal,” the tweet continued. “I think that kind of a platform is needed.”
Musk responded, “Am giving serious thought to this.”
Am giving serious thought to this
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
Musk conducted an informal poll late last week on Twitter, which stated: “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?”
More than 2 million people responded to the poll with 70.4% saying that Twitter did not adhere to the principle.
“The consequences of this poll will be important,” Musk continued. “Please vote carefully.”
Musk followed up on the poll on Saturday, writing: “Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy. What should be done?”
“Is a new platform needed?” he asked.
Is a new platform needed?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022
“Buy twitter,” political commentator Mike Cernovich responded. “If you’re a leftist making death threats against conservatives. or organizing riots, Twitter respects your freedom of speech. Twitter also respects the freedom of speech for media hoaxes like when every major outlet framed an innocent Covington high school kid.”
Musk responded, “Doesn’t sound very balanced.”
Musk conducted another informal poll on Twitter on Thursday in which he asked if “Twitter[’s] algorithm should be open source.”
More than 1.1 million people responded to that poll with 82.7% saying, “Yes.”
“I’m worried about de facto bias in ‘the Twitter algorithm’ having a major effect on public discourse,” Musk continued. “How do we know what’s really happening?”
Musk recently came out and objected to the censoring of Russian media outlets in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources,” Musk tweeted. “We will not do so unless at gunpoint. Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.”
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