Elon Musk Blocks Public Citizen, Raising A Kerfuffle About Free Speech On Twitter

The consumer advocacy organization Public Citizen posted a screenshot to Twitter yesterday showing that Elon Musk has blocked it on the platform. Public Citizen, which focuses on curbing the power of corporations over American society on issues like election financing and environmental regulation, cited the block as evidence that Musk is not actually committed to the principle of free speech.

FYI: We’re blocked by Elon Musk.

So much for being “committed” to free speech. pic.twitter.com/iXsMQYq8v0

— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) April 26, 2022

Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion earlier this week, and notably started a discussion surrounding the platform's role in free speech as a “town square” for open discussion late last month, suggesting that Twitter’s content moderation should be toned down.

By “free speech”, I simply mean that which matches the law.

I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law.

If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect.

Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 26, 2022

In a vaguely worded pinned tweet yesterday, Musk seemed to suggest that he would match federal law (presumably American law) in regulating free speech on Twitter and not go “beyond the law.” Many users pointed out cases where this approach may be insufficient or seems to contradict Musk’s previous promises about changes to the platform.

Huh?! Do you think that speech becomes illegal if people use automation to speak? Isn't that the same awful argument people who said freedom of speech doesn't extend to the Internet made?https://t.co/yTsdpS9gbb

— 𝙳𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚍 𝚂𝚌𝚑𝚠𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚣 (@JoelKatz) April 26, 2022

What if free speech includes a lie or incorrrct information? Like someone for example says incorrect stuff about vaccine or politics that can cause hurt and damage others?

Do you still allow it? Twitter banned many Anti vaccine people under this spread of incorrect information

— Andrew Aziz (@BearBullTraders) April 26, 2022

Law of which country?
What if the law requires to block a specific political party?

— Paolo Ardoino (@paoloardoino) April 27, 2022

Supporters of Musk pushed back against Public Citizen, defending the new owner of Twitter’s morals and commitment to free speech. They pointed out that a right to free speech does not guarantee a right to be listened to, and that it is well within Musk’s rights to block speech he personally doesn’t wish to hear. Twitter is now Musk’s private property, and it was never governed by the First Amendment (which only applies to the federal government). That being said, many users expressed fear that Musk may apply his own standards across the platform, potentially silencing voices he disagrees with.

you think these are a violation of the first amendment, eh sport? pic.twitter.com/QLKiEHIuSn

— Potato Of Reason (@PotatoOfReason) April 27, 2022

Public Citizen realizing free speech on a platform literally means giving individuals the right to control their own interactions rather than the platform deciding it for them pic.twitter.com/UXsJHVuwKe

— ⓘ ELIJAH SCHAFFER (@ElijahSchaffer) April 27, 2022

Free speech doesn’t mean anyone has to listen to you.

You're still on the platform dummy @Public_Citizen https://t.co/Ha5tg5vJ3s

— 🍃 Ɣ 🍃 (@V_its_me888) April 27, 2022

Many (including Public Citizen) have criticized actions Musk took in the past to silence or refute critics of Tesla and his other projects.

Do not trust Elon Musk.

Do not trust Jeff Bezos.

Do not trust Mark Zuckerberg.

Do not trust Tim Cook.

Do not trust Sundar Pichai.

Do not trust Satya Nadella.

Regulate them. Break up Big Tech. Hold them accountable.

— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) April 26, 2022

so much for being a "free speech absolutist" pic.twitter.com/zkITl8y0xX

— Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) April 19, 2022

Supporters of Public Citizen responded by calling out what they saw as Musk’s hypocrisy.

So much for Elon Musk's free speech.@Public_Citizen, which represents half a million people who care about minimizing corporate control over democracy, blocked by Musk.

Not blocked, The Proud Boys. pic.twitter.com/pY76UwwKyo

— Rafael Shimunov (@rafaelshimunov) April 27, 2022

Elon Musk blocked a Public Citizen. https://t.co/AirluUQbMk

— Outspoken™️ (@Out5p0ken) April 27, 2022

A lot of eyeballs are now on Elon Musk, who has thrust himself into the center of the public square with his purchase of Twitter. Almost everybody on the platform now seems to wonder what Musk will do with the power he has just bought himself, and how the multi-billionaire will define exactly what he means by “free speech.”

On thé plus side, he’s définitely not gonna remove blocking

— Eric Josey (@Eric_the_great7) April 26, 2022