Laurel Duggan, DCNF
Prominent liberals did not take kindly to the news that Twitter had agreed to sell itself to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, predicting his ownership of the company would adversely affect the platform.
Twitter users complained that Musk’s takeover would result in an increase in racism and abusive content on the site, and several users noted Musk’s South African background to suggest that he would implement “Apartheid” online.
Elon musk buying Twitter is a dream come true for white nationalists. After all musk is from the former apartheid country of South Africa which the white supremacists idolize.
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) April 25, 2022
“Elon musk buying Twitter is a dream come true for white nationalists,” radio host Dean Obeidallah wrote. “After all musk is from the former apartheid country of South Africa which the white supremacists idolize.”
Wonder if Elon musk will copy the apartheid rules of his home country South Africa and give us check marks based on our skin color? The whiter the check mark the more rights you have on Twitter. #AskingForAFriend
— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) April 25, 2022
“Wonder if Elon musk will copy the apartheid rules of his home country South Africa and give us check marks based on our skin color? The whiter the check mark the more rights you have on Twitter,” he said.
At its root, @ElonMusk wanting to purchase Twitter is not about left vs right.
It’s about white power.
The man was raised in Apartheid by a white nationalist.
He’s upset that Twitter won’t allow white nationalists to target/harass people. That’s his definition of free speech.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) April 25, 2022
“At its root, @ElonMusk wanting to purchase Twitter is not about left vs right. It’s about white power,” activist Shaun King wrote on Twitter. “It’s about how the richest man in the world, a son of Apartheid, raised by a white nationalist, wants to be sure his speech, and that of other white men, isn’t censored.”
Others worried that Musk’s purported intention to allow people with dissenting points of view to speak freely was not necessarily sincere or in line with principles of free speech.
When billionaires like Elon Musk justify their motives by using “freedom,” beware. What they actually seek is freedom from accountability.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) April 24, 2022
“When billionaires like Elon Musk justify their motives by using ‘freedom,’ beware,” former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich said. “What they actually seek is freedom from accountability.”
https://twitter.com/davidmweissman/status/1518541670731722752?s=20&t=9bcq63GOhv63dcXmU453dA
‘I still think Elon Musk owning Twitter is a bad idea,” Occupy Democrats writer David Weissman said. “He will amplify racists, bigots, and misinformation. He is a bad-faith actor with his distorted views of free speech and censorship.”
I hope you won't become a platform for spreading misinformation as that's not what free speech means.
— Adi Gaskell (@AdiGaskell) April 25, 2022
“I hope you won’t become a platform for spreading misinformation as that’s not what free speech means,” Forbes writer Adi Gaskell wrote.
As the meltdowns unfolded, news sites CNET and The Verge published articles Monday explaining how Twitter users could deactivate their accounts.
When an oligarch buys a communication platform to distribute rightwing propaganda that's not democracy.
— Jennifer Mercieca (@jenmercieca) April 25, 2022
“When an oligarch buys a communication platform to distribute rightwing propaganda that’s not democracy,” Texas A&M professor Jennifer Merciera said.
So if/when Elon Musk takes control of Twitter and turns it into a malevolent mouthpiece, where should Democrats and Progressives go for free speech on social media? An existing site or do we start our own? pic.twitter.com/XmHYBowTeQ
— Nikki Finke (@NikkiFinke) April 25, 2022
“So if/when Elon Musk takes control of Twitter and turns it into a malevolent mouthpiece, where should Democrats and Progressives go for free speech on social media? An existing site or do we start our own?” journalist Niki Finke wrote.
Twitter’s board agreed to sell the company to Musk for $54.20 per share Monday afternoon in a transaction worth roughly $44 billion.
For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
- ‘This is Jill sticking the shiv’: Biden raises eyebrows when he gives credit to Kamala for economic policy - August 16, 2024
- Damning new ad slamming ‘Chief Weirdo Tim Walz’ launches same time as blistering new nickname - August 6, 2024
- Far-left Kamala Harris has vulnerable Dems running scared - July 26, 2024
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.