Fact check: Twitter lead by elon musk will not be able to uphold free speech

1. Summary of the results

The evidence strongly suggests that Twitter/X under Elon Musk's leadership has not consistently upheld free speech principles, despite claims to the contrary. This is demonstrated through:

• Compliance with 99% of 971 government content suppression requests between October 2022 and April 2023 ^[1]
• Transformation into what Reporters Without Borders calls a "sanctuary for disinformation" ^[2]
• Selective enforcement of rules and suspension of accounts, particularly those critical of the Israeli government ^[3]
• Internal contradictions in content moderation policies, as reported by former head of trust and safety Yoel Roth ^[4]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important contextual elements are worth considering:

• There's a fundamental tension between absolute free speech and content moderation: X claims to "promote and protect freedom of expression" while acknowledging risks of disinformation and terrorist content ^[5]
• Some argue that Musk is actually attempting to align Twitter with First Amendment principles, viewing previous moderation approaches as overly restrictive ^[6]
• The platform faces regulatory pressure, as evidenced by European Commission investigations and independent audits raising concerns about content moderation ^[5]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement oversimplifies a complex situation:

• Multiple stakeholders are involved: governments demanding content removal (India, Turkey, UAE) ^[1], regulatory bodies like the European Commission ^[5], and users with varying expectations
• The platform has become "more like Elon Musk's house party" where speech is controlled by his preferences rather than consistent principles ^[7]
• There's a documented evolution in Musk's position from "free speech defender" to "champion of disinformation" ^[2], suggesting that the issue isn't simply about ability but about changing priorities and definitions of free speech

Those benefiting from various narratives include:

• Musk himself, who benefits from maintaining the image of a "free speech absolutist"
• Governments seeking content control, who have found a compliant partner
• Critics and competitors who benefit from highlighting inconsistencies in Twitter/X's policies