The billionaire said he could launch his own smartphone if Twitter is removed from popular platforms.
Twitter boss Elon Musk has said he is open to creating his own. “alternative” smartphone in case the tech giants move to take down its social networking site, suggesting it is left with no choice.
In response to a suggestion by conservative pundit Liz Wheeler that the billionaire should “produce your own smartphone” if Apple and Google were to remove Twitter from their app stores, Musk said he wouldn’t rule it out, though he did express some reluctance toward the concept.
“I certainly hope it doesn’t come to that, but yes, if there’s no other option, I’ll make an alternative phone.” said Friday.
Of course I hope it doesn’t come to that, but yes, if there is no other option, I will make an alternative phone.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 25, 2022
Musk, who completed a $44 billion buyout of Twitter last month, has repeatedly stated his intentions to protect free speech on the site, even announcing a “general amnesty” for suspended accounts “as long as they haven’t broken the law or engaged in egregious spam.”
However, critics have condemned Musk’s takeover, with some insisting it will fuel a wave of “hate speech” and right-wing extremism on the social media platform. In a report published by the Washington Post on Thursday, several activists and “experts in trust and online security” said the businessman “open the gates of hell” on Twitter, some are even demanding that Google and Apple completely ban the site from their app stores.
“Apple and Google need to seriously start exploring removing Twitter from the app store.” Alejandra Caraballo, an instructor at Harvard Law’s cyber law clinic, told the outlet, adding that reinstating the banned accounts would be “existentially dangerous for several marginalized communities”
“People who engaged in direct targeted bullying can come back and engage in doxing, targeted bullying, vicious bullying, calls for violence, celebrating violence. I can’t even begin to tell you how dangerous this is going to be.” Caraballo continued.
Musk has responded to detractors, saying Twitter will never allow calls for violence or other posts that violate the law. He noted that suspended users would be brought back. “slowly” and only after a “hand review” arguing that the move would help make the site “a forum for the peaceful exchange of views”.