A U.K. Parliament online safety group has invited new Twitter owner Elon Musk to testify regarding his proposed changes to the social media company.
The Parliament’s digital committee extended the invitation to Musk on Wednesday, just over a week after his $44 billion purchase to take over ownership of Twitter and make it privately held.
“I am honored and thank the Parliament for their invitation, but it would be premature at this time to accept, given that there has not yet been a shareholder vote,” Musk said in an email to the Associated Press.
Musk has already noted several potential innovations on Twitter, though it is unclear how serious some of the comments are to be taken.
“Ultimately, the downfall of the Freemasons was giving away their stonecutting services for nothing,” Musk said in a Tuesday post.
“Twitter will always be free for casual users, but maybe a slight cost for commercial/government users,” he added.
Twitter will always be free for casual users, but maybe a slight cost for commercial/government users
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 3, 2022
Musk also called for an investigation of those who want to pressure advertisers through boycotts to stop supporting Twitter over his new emphasis on free speech.
“Who funds these organizations that want to control your access to information? Let’s investigate,” he wrote.
“In a letter sent to brands Tuesday ahead of the 2022 NewFronts digital advertising conference, more than two dozen civil society groups said marketers should secure commitments from Twitter to retain its most critical policies, including on civic integrity and hateful conduct, and threaten to withdraw funding if Twitter does not comply,” CNN reported in the article he linked to the post.
Who funds these organizations that want to control your access to information? Let’s investigate …https://t.co/dBFsGjOMC8
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 3, 2022
In a sign of his political views, Musk tweeted last week with digs at both the Left and Right.
“The far left hates everyone, themselves included!” he posted.
“But I’m no fan of the far right either. Let’s have less hate and more love,” he added.
But I’m no fan of the far right either.
Let’s have less hate and more love.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 29, 2022
Shortly after the announcement of his purchase of Twitter, Musk also dropped a post that excited many concerned over privacy issues on social media.
“Twitter DMs should have end to end encryption like Signal, so no one can spy on or hack your messages,” he noted.
Twitter DMs should have end to end encryption like Signal, so no one can spy on or hack your messages
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 28, 2022
The popular free and open-source messaging app Signal is known for its privacy features, in contrast with other social platforms known for selling user information.
The U.K.’s concerns may be related to new draft legislation revealed in March that included potential criminal prosecution of big tech leaders who fail to comply with the country’s online safety rules.
Proposed changes could include “giving users more power to block anonymous trolls, requiring porn sites to verify users are 18 or older, and making cyberflashing — or sending someone unsolicited graphic images — a criminal offense,” according to a March Associated Press report.
“Tech executives would be criminally liable two months after the law takes force, instead of two years afterward as proposed in the original draft. Companies could be fined up to 10% of their annual global revenue for violations,” it added.
Musk is not the only American social media company owner to be invited to the U.K. The Washington Post noted that Meta (then called Facebook) CEO Mark Zuckerberg was invited by the same Parliament group to answer questions regarding fake news. Zuckerberg declined the invitation.
Source: Dailywire
