Musk announces ‘general amnesty’
Some of the most controversial rightwing figures will return to Twitter next week after Elon Musk announced a “general amnesty” for all suspended accounts.
The Twitter chief executive polled users asking: “Should Twitter offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, provided that they have not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam?”
Nearly 3.2 million people responded, with the overwhelming majority — 72.4 per cent — voting yes.
“The people have spoken,” Musk tweeted. “Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei.”
The billionaire used the same Latin phrase, which translates to “the voice of the people is the voice of God”, after reinstating the account of former US President Donald Trump last weekend.
Musk has already reinstated a number of banned accounts since completing his $US44 billion ($70.38 billion) takeover last month.
He said this week he would soon reveal how Twitter, under previous management, had unfairly targeted conservatives.
Responding to his poll, one user said, “Well whatever it decides to do, Twitter should be clear and consistent about its rules and penalties for breaking them, enforcement should be unbiased, and the mechanisms of enforcement shouldn’t be easily abused by people who have an agenda.”
Musk replied, “The more I learn, the worse it gets. The world should know the truth of what has been happening at Twitter. Transparency will earn the trust of the people.”
High-profile figures who were previously banned for breaking Twitter’s rules include the likes of rightwing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, anti-Islam campaigner Tommy Robinson, Canadian podcaster Stefan Molyneux and UK commentator Katie Hopkins, among many others.
It’s not clear whether controversial InfoWars host Alex Jones will be included in Musk’s amnesty.
This week, Musk insisted he would never allow Jones back on the platform, claiming he had exploited the deaths of children.
Jones was slapped with US$1.4 billion in defamation damages over claims that the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting in Connecticut — that led to 27 deaths — was a “hoax”.
One of those urging Musk to reinstate Jones’ account was internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom, who said allowing the InfoWars founder to tweet would demonstrate “real free speech”.
Dotcom is living in New Zealand but is wanted by the US Justice Department for crimes including copyright infringement and racketeering.
But Musk wasn’t moved by the plea, citing his own child’s death.
“My firstborn child died in my arms,” he tweeted.
In 2002, Musk and his first wife, Justine Musk, had their first baby Nevada Alexander Musk.
He died of sudden infant death syndrome, aged just 10 weeks old.