<mediadc-video-embed data-state="{"cms.site.owner":{"_ref":"00000161-3486-d333-a9e9-76c6fbf30000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b93390000"},"cms.content.publishDate":1666959158932,"cms.content.publishUser":{"_ref":"00000179-379a-dbb2-a7fd-bfda8bfc0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"cms.content.updateDate":1666959158932,"cms.content.updateUser":{"_ref":"00000179-379a-dbb2-a7fd-bfda8bfc0000","_type":"00000161-3461-dd66-ab67-fd6b933a0007"},"rawHtml":"
var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ "div": "Brid_66957084", "obj": {"id":"27789","width":"16","height":"9","video":"1126722"} }); ","_id":"00000184-1e82-d5ff-a7af-1edf28820000","_type":"2f5a8339-a89a-3738-9cd2-3ddf0c8da574"}”>Video EmbedThe news of Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover has elicited the celebration of several Republicans, particularly those who have long criticized the platform for what they consider to be the unfair censorship of conservative viewpoints.
Musk’s acquisition of the platform was finalized on Thursday, giving the world’s wealthiest man ownership of one of the most prominent Big Tech companies and raising expectations that major changes would soon be coming to the app — including the reversal of several censorship policies. Over the last few months, the billionaire has voiced support for a “free speech absolutist” approach, seeking ways to limit content moderation on the platform.
ELON MUSK OFFICIALLY TAKES OVER TWITTER AS CEO AND CFO LEAVE BUILDING
The news was met with celebration from several conservatives who have lamented Twitter’s censorship policies, arguing they unfairly target right-leaning content.
“I feel like a kid in a candy store,” wrote Libs of TikTok, a popular right-wing Twitter account that reposts left-leaning content as a way to mock opposing viewpoints. The account has been temporarily suspended from Twitter at least five times for violating the platform’s code of conduct.
“Twitter right now is like a party full of toddlers high on sugar. Kinda love it,” wrote Libby Emmons, the editor-in-chief of the Post Millennial.
Other users said they expect they can now post statements such as “Men can’t get pregnant” and “There are only 2 genders” under Musk’s leadership.
Some researchers have expressed concern about the lack of content moderation, particularly with the midterm elections next month and lingering claims of widespread election fraud during the 2020 presidential election. Twitter had previously said it would crack down on election misinformation, but it’s unclear whether the platform will uphold those promises with Musk at the helm.
“There could be real-world consequences to his leadership,” David Kaye, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, told the New York Times. “To the extent that world leaders see they have this space and it’s unmoderated, they could push to see how far they can go.”
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However, Musk maintained that he would ensure the platform does not become a “free for all hellscape” and that he wanted to ensure it was friendly to all users.
One question that remains is whether Musk would reinstate account privileges to several high-profile users who were banned because of policy violations, most notably former President Donald Trump. The former president was removed in January 2021 “due to the risk of further incitement of violence” following the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
