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A dozen advocacy groups are launching a new campaign Friday aimed at blocking Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $44 Billion Purchase Twitterwarned that he would degrade critical security measures on the platform if allowed to take control.
The Stop the Deal campaign, shared exclusively with CNBC, includes plans to pressure government agencies to review the acquisition, persuade Tesla shareholders to take action against it, and encourage advertisers to pull spending from the platform. To say
It highlights concerns that many progressives have shared about how plans to acquire Musk and a more open platform could allow for more widespread hatred and harassment on the platform.
Participating nonprofits include Accountable Tech, Center for Countering Digital Hate, GLAAD and MediaJustice.
musk is already reportedly faced regulatory scrutiny on the deal, which he recently said”on hold“As he wants more information on the number of fake accounts on the platform. Twitter executives have reportedly told employees It’s not like that, Since the deal and that tweet, Twitter’s stock had fallen amid a broader downturn, leading some analysts to speculate that it may be looking for a better price.
The group behind the Stop the Deal campaign warns about them Website That Musk will “steam basic content moderation safeguards and provide a megaphone to extremists who traffic in white nationalism, hate, propaganda and oppression – and put marginalized communities at greater risk.” The campaign site predicts that Musk will “restore the Twitter accounts of public figures who were banned for inciting violence and spreading dangerous propaganda.”
Although it does not mention the name of former President Donald Trump, which may apply to him, as he was suspended from the stage in the wake of the January 6 uprising at the US Capitol.
Musk has said that his motivation behind buying Twitter is driven by his fondness for the service and his belief that it should serve as a more open platform for diverse ideas. musk is compatible A forum with fewer rules about what is and isn’t allowed speech, although he acknowledges that it will still need to comply with international law. He also said that permanent sanctions, such as those currently active against Trump, should generally be conducive to temporary ones.
But Stop the Deal organizers say less content moderation doesn’t mean speech will be more free, adding that it will lead to more oppression of marginalized communities.
“Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter will lead to no more ‘free speech’ on the platform,” said MoveOne executive director Rehana Epting in a statement. “It will only lead to more extreme voices exploiting the platform to incite hatred, violence and harassment. Social media platforms that are nothing more than a toxic cesspool of propaganda are harmful to our society and our politics.”
Bridget Todd, Director of Communications for UltraViolet, said, “With more and more threats of violence appearing online, the platform is finally taking our responsibility to create a safer space for all people, but especially black and brown women and LGBTQ+ people. Listening to the demands.” said in a statement.
Stop the Deal organizers urged users to tweet their protest at Musk, Twitter advertisers and Tesla shareholders.
In the legal and regulatory realms, groups say the government could take a number of steps to block the deal. One option would be for the Securities and Exchange Commission to bar Musk from serving as a director or officer of a public company, citing other actions. Failure to correctly disclose its initial investment in Twitter,
The coalition says the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US may also adjust the terms of the agreement if it determines that foreign investment threatens national security. He pointed to a revelation that the deal would be partially funded By Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud and the Sovereign Wealth Fund of Qatar.
The group also said the Federal Trade Commission could sue to block the deal if it was determined to reduce competition. But this path could be complicated by Twitter’s relatively small piece of the social media market compared to peers like Meta. Facebook,
Twitter declined to comment.