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Elon Musk looks to buy Twitter
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How it started: “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.” ~ Elon Musk, April 2022.
How it’s going:
[link=https://techcrunch.com/2022/12/15/twitter-just-banned-a-wave-of-prominent-journalists-with-no-explanation/] Twitter just banned prominent journalists who cover Elon Musk with no explanation[/link]
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Elon is about to realize other countries have rules on these sort of things:
[link=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-twitter-suspensions-we-have-problem-twitter-2022-12-16/]https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-twitter-suspensions-we-have-problem-twitter-2022-12-16/[/link]
“The German Foreign Office tweeted screenshots on Friday of the accounts of journalists suspended by Twitter, warning the platform that the ministry had a problem with moves that jeapordised press freedom.Twitter [link=https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-suspends-accounts-several-journalists-2022-12-16/]suspended[/link] the accounts of several prominent journalists who had posted about its new owner Elon Musk, prompting protests from their media organisations.
“Press freedom cannot be switched on and off on a whim,” the ministry wrote on its official Twitter account. “The journalists below can no longer follow us, comment and criticise. We have a problem with that,
(i think he’s going to bounce up against the EU on safety and hate speech too.)
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[/h1] [b]Twitter Kills Audio Feature After Elon Musk Appearance[/b]
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Twitter Spaces, the audio feature that allows people to participate in group chats using the social media platform, has been disabled and its not clear whether it will ever return, [link=https://gizmodo.com/elon-musk-kills-twitter-audio-feature-after-bizarre-tal-1849902405]Gizmodo[/link] reports.
Musk took part in a group chat last night but abruptly left the conversation after being asked tough questions about why he banned journalists from the service. -
[link=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/tesla-stock-tumbles-another-4-capping-off-rough-week-for-investors-174423963.html] Tesla stock tumbles another 4%, capping off rough week for investors
The pain for Tesla investors is unending as a rough week nears an end. Tesla shares slipped another 4% today, dropping to multi-year lows…[/link]
$44bn here, $25 bn there… pretty soon you’re talking about real money-
Killing Tesla in order to save, I mean kill Twit.
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They were fine when we were shadowbanned for saying:
-Schools should be open
-Masks dont work
-Lockdowns do more harm than good
-The vax shouldnt be required
-etc etcBut Elon temporarily suspends accounts that doxx him putting his family at risk and the MSM goes bonkers.
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As if
This was about the FBI
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Huh?
Yes or no:
The FBI should peruse random citizens social media posts (from people who are under no criminal investigation) and flag them for potential removal by the social media company.
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Yes.
The FBI has had an ongoing program to counter election interference since the aftermath of the 2016 election. They have prioritized eliminating/reducing election misinformation.
Part of this involves monitoring of social media.
(ps- that is not news. the program is well known and reported on)
(pps- re “citizens'”… twitter and other platforms are global … there is no way to asses citizenship status upon content review.
(ppps – content posted to twitter is public. there is no expectation of privacy from law enforcement or … anyone.)
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Twit be damned. There is no guarantee or expectation of privacy while running in neutral or working at it.
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dergon said The FBI has had an ongoing program to counter election interference since the aftermath of the 2016 election. They have prioritized eliminating/reducing election misinformation.
Do you still not know that all of this election interference since the aftermath of the 2016 election was all a Hillary/FBI concocted load of crap? Talk about a threat to democracy.
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I can see how if a person believed that election interference was all concocted by Hillary Clinton how they might also be outraged by the *huge* Matt Taibbi twitterfiles story.
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There was no Russian collusion in 2016. Come on, election denier. You are a threat to our democracy.
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Looks like the Musk/ Bari Weiss love affair is over ….
[link=https://www.mediaite.com/tech/elon-musk-turns-on-bari-weiss-after-she-criticizes-journo-suspensions-blasts-her-for-sucking-up-to-elite-media/] Elon Musk Accuses Bari Weiss of Sucking Up To ‘Elite Media'[/h3] [/link]
[b]Elon Musk[/b] took a swipe at[b] Bari Weiss[/b] on Twitter after the journalist criticized Musks recent [link=https://www.mediaite.com/news/watch-cnns-donie-osullivan-calls-bs-on-musk-excuse-for-suspending-him-in-twitter-purge-says-i-poked-the-billionaire/]suspension[/link] of numerous accounts belonging to reporters.
In a Friday thread, Weiss accused Musks Twitter of having the same problem as the the regime before him. Weiss previously worked with Musk to help release part of the [link=https://www.mediaite.com/tech/bari-weiss-warns-against-handful-of-unelected-tech-giants-wielding-such-vast-power-over-discourse-including-elon-musk/]Twitter Files[/link], exposing internal communications in the company related to banning accounts.
The old regime at Twitter governed by its own whims and biases and it sure looks like the new regime has the same problem. I oppose it in both cases. And I think those journalists who were reporting on a story of public importance should be reinstated, Weiss tweeted.
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[link=https://observer.com/2022/12/koguan-leo-tesla-shareholder-oust-elon-musk/]https://observer.com/2022…holder-oust-elon-musk/[/link]
[b]Teslas Third Largest Shareholder Calls For the Ouster of Elon Musk as CEO[/b]
“Elon abandoned Tesla and Tesla has no working CEO,” said KoGuan Leo, who owns $3.4 billion worth of Tesla shares. -
[link=https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redirect-to/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Felon-musk-twitter-suspends-another-195922824.html]Elon Musks Twitter Suspends Reporter Who Has Investigated Him for Years (yahoo.com)[/link]
t increasingly looks like self-described free speech absolutist [link=https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musks-twitter-suspends-cnn-washington-post-new-york-times-reporters-who-cover-elon-musk]Elon Musk[/link] is [link=https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musks-twitter-suspends-cnn-washington-post-new-york-times-reporters-who-cover-elon-musk]suspending Twitter users[/link] based on personal grudges instead of concrete principles. The latest victim: Insider columnist Linette Lopez, who has spent years aggressively covering Musks businesses, including documenting [link=https://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-faulty-battery-cooling-systems-design-model-s-2012-2019-6]alleged safety lapses[/link] at Tesla.
In 2018, Musk disputed Lopezs reporting, claiming that she had written several false articles and [link=https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1014811835017584640?s=20&t=E-fiwiv_OrJFsaLcodhjfQ]suggesting[/link], with scant evidence that she had bribed a former Tesla employee for information and was secretly serving as an inside trading source for one of Teslas biggest short-sellers.
Have you ever heard anything more ridiculous, she said on Friday of the allegations, laughing. What a frickin fantasy.
Lopez told The Daily Beast she received no explanation for her suspension, nor information about how long the ban will last. She said she hadnt tweeted details about the location of Musks private jethis [link=https://www.thedailybeast.com/twitter-suspends-reinstates-then-rebans-account-tracking-elon-musks-jet]stated rationale[/link] for other suspensionsbut instead had been cataloging what she considered his hypocrisy over doxxing and targeting private citizens.
Sounds very sketchy if true. @lopezlinette, is it possible you’re serving as an inside trading source for one of Tesla’s biggest short-sellers? An ex-Tesla employee just went on record formally claiming you bribed him & he sent you valuable Tesla IP in exchange. Is this true?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 5, 2018
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Twitter now blocking links out to other social media platforms
[link=https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1604531265419591681]https://twitter.com/Twitt…us/1604531265419591681[/link]Specifically, we will remove accounts created solely for the purpose of promoting other social platforms and content that contains links or usernames for the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr and Post.
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[link=https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/europe-fit-digital-age/digital-markets-act-ensuring-fair-and-open-digital-markets_en#what-will-be-the-consequences-of-non-compliance]https://commission.europa…nces-of-non-compliance[/link]
blocking of links to other platforms may be a violation of EU digital media rules.-
Musk polls twitter user base asking if he should step down as CEO. Twitter users vote solidly Yes.
TSLA jumps in the pre-market.
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It gives him an off ramp
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Warren’s letter –
The first weeks of Mr. Musks Twitter ownership have raised questions about possible violations of securities or other laws, including whether Mr. Musk is funneling Tesla resources into Twitter, a potentially improper diversion of resources that might impact Teslas sales and earnings and could result in delays in programs at Tesla.13 According to press reports, in late October,[b] Mr. Musk pulled more than 50 of his trusted Tesla employees, mostly software engineers from the Autopilot team, into his Twitter takeover,[/b] including key staff such as Teslas Chief Information Officer, Director of Software Development, Director of Software Engineering, Autopilot Project Manager, Senior Manager of DevOps and a senior manager of security intelligence.14 Reports noted that [i]t is not immediately clear how Tesla employees are expected to split their schedules between the automaker and Twitter or whether and how they will be reimbursed for those efforts.15Although Mr. Musk reportedly indicated in court testimony that Tesla employees work for Twitter was just a voluntary thing, one anonymous employee indicated that most would also feel it was impossible to turn down a direct request from Musk without later facing poor performance reviews or other consequences.16
[b]This use of Tesla employees raises obvious questions about whether Mr. Musk is appropriating resources from a publicly traded firm, Tesla, to benefit his own private company, Twitter. [/b]This, of course, would violate Mr. Musks legal duty of loyalty to Tesla and trigger questions about the Tesla Boards responsibility to prevent such actions, and may also run afoul other antitunneling rules that aim to prevent corporate insiders from extracting resources from their firms.17 The SEC imposes a legal obligation on companies to make public any material definitive agreements, including employment agreements with executive officers,18 but Tesla to date has reported no such agreements.
Mr. Musks acquisition created unavoidable conflicts of interest. For example, Twitter relies on advertising revenue from automobile companies that are in direct competition with Tesla, including Audi, Chevrolet, Ford, GM, Jeep, and Volkswagen.19 As the owner of Twitter, Mr. Musk may decide to run the company to maximize badly-needed revenue, even if that includes great deals for Teslas competitors and potential injury to Tesla. Or, perhaps the opposite will occur. As part of his fiduciary duty to Tesla, Mr. Musk may run Twitter to benefit Tesla: for example, he could subtly shift Twitter algorithms so that praise of Tesla products receive greater attention and criticism of Tesla products will be suppressed. He could simply provide free advertising to Tesla. Or Mr. Musk could use other methods to benefit Tesla by making it more difficult for Teslas competitors to use Twitter to reach potential customers.
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All of the traditional news outlets went bonkers over Elon Musk banning a few journalists for doxxing him and putting his kid in harms way.
Uhmmmmmmmm I think thats what the right wing News has told you
The liberal news that I watch laughs at musk and Twitter then goes on talking about trump and the crazy republican house members
The liberals are angry because musk bought twitter just aint true
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[link=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/12/20/elon-musk-resign-twitter-ceo/]Musk says he will find new Twitter CEO but keep control of key divisions[/link]
what an awesome job for the new CEO! … Like an NFL coach with an owner who thinks they know draft picks and play calling.
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also … interesting holes popping up in the “real time tracking” justification for banning twitter journalists
[link=https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redirect-to/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Ftech%2Ftech-news%2Fcalifornia-police-say-member-elon-musks-security-team-suspect-stalker-rcna62664]https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-ne…lker-rcna62664[/link][i]…In a Tuesday statement, police in South Pasadena said that the incident involved a member of Musk’s security team, whose vehicle hit the car of a man he alleged was following him. [/i][i]The police called the security team member a “suspect.” They did not say what crimes they suspected him of committing, but said they were investigating a report of “an assault with a deadly weapon involving a vehicle.[/i]”
[i]…[/i]
The police called the security team member a “suspect.” They did not say what crimes they suspected him of committing, but said they were investigating a report of “an assault with a deadly weapon involving a vehicle.”
Musk’s description of the incident was different. Last week, in [link=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/twitter-suspends-elon-jet-account-that-tracked-elon-musk-plane-rcna61718]justifying his decision to ban the Twitter account @ElonJet[/link], which publishes the location of his private airplane, Musk said that a “stalker” had used location information from the account to follow and confront a car carrying one of his children.
The statement from South Pasadena police, though, contained no mention of a suspected stalker.
At no time during the incident did the victim identify the suspect or indicate the altercation was anything more than coincidental,” police said.
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what an awesome job for the new CEO! … Like a NFL coach with an owner who thinks they know draft picks and play calling.
Jerry Jones
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TSLA is down another 6.3% in the first three hours of trading today, apparently on this news…
[link=https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redirect-to/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.reuters.com%2Fbusiness%2Fautos-transportation%2Ftesla-offers-discount-some-car-models-us-canada-2022-12-22%2F]Tesla doubles discounts on mainstay vehicles to $7,500 in U.S. (December 22, 2022)[/link]
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Elon did another investor call on Spaces this evening – it didn’t instill confidence
here’s a Twitter thread about it:
[link=https://twitter.com/williamlegate/status/1606115062963380228]https://twitter.com/williamlegate/status/1606115062963380228[/link]-
Getting calls from sales people trying to get me to take delivery before the end of the year to replace one of our models coming off lease. Not going to happen.
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[h1]Twitter post claiming Tesla is recalling every single car from fake Elon Musk account starts chaos[/h1]
[link=https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redirect-to/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Ftech%2Ftwitter-elon-musk-fake-account-tesla-recall-ethan-klein-b2250036.html%3Futm_medium%3DSocial%26utm_source%3DFacebook%26fbclid%3DIwAR1Pw8cRiVmhCjaenKYxS1ow00eTXIy_lK-qGIOYjgAJx6p_S6Av5f9iZkE%23Echobox%3D1671738626]https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/t…box=1671738626[/link]
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[link=https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/redirect-to/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.businessinsider.com%2Felon-musks-twitter-kills-features-has-new-layoffs-seeks-funding-2022-12]Business Insider: Elon Musk is cutting even deeper at Twitter as he tries to save it from financial ruin. Here’s what’s next on the chopping block.[/link]
Even though Twitter’s employee headcount is [link=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-twitter-firing-workers-accident-hr-2022-11]about 70% less[/link] than it was prior to Musk taking over at the end of October, the billionaire continues to trim expenses or areas of the company he deems too costly or unneeded, three people familiar with the company said. Meanwhile, he’s begun in earnest to [link=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-tesla-investors-plead-leave-twitter-2022-12]solicit new funding from previous investors[/link] in his Twitter takeover. Musk on Tuesday compared [link=https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-twitter-plane-crash-3-billion-negative-cash-flow-2022-12]Twitter’s financial situation[/link] to “a plane that’s headed towards the ground at high speed” and admitted it’s facing a $3.5 billion loss in 2023.
Certain features on Twitter are being shut down in order to further reduce costs and “streamline” the platform, according to two of the people familiar with the company. Moments, a curated selection of happenings and events on Twitter, is being closed after launching in 2015. It was run mainly by Twitter’s Curation team, which was almost entirely let go during Musk’s [link=https://www.businessinsider.com/layoffs-at-twitter-begin-night-before-elon-musk-said-they-would-2022-11]first round of layoffs[/link]. There’s been discussion about closing Voice Tweets, audio messages that Twitter rolled out last year, along with a reduction in what’s available from the Explore page and a “relaunch” of that search function, according to the two people and messages seen by Insider.
(sounds like Elon learned from running an RP practice in Austin)
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Seeking Alpha:
[h3][link=https://seekingalpha.com/article/4562466-can-tesla-survive-without-the-myth-of-elon-musk]Can Tesla Survive Without The Myth Of Elon Musk?[/link][/h3][h2]Reputation Risk: Tesla Brand Tarnished By Twitter[/h2] Ever since Musk took the reins in October, Twitter has been embroiled in a seemingly endless [link=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/nov/12/elon-musk-twitter-chaos-enleashed]cycle of chaos and crisis[/link]. Musk’s erratic behavior and apparent lack of any coherent plans for actually leading Twitter appear to have already tarnished, at least to a degree, his reputation for far-sighted leadership and ingenious innovation with the general public. It has also spurred considerable anxiety among investors who fear that, having become inextricably linked with his various business endeavors in the public consciousness, Musk’s recent behavior could harm the companies he leads, especially Tesla.
Investors’ fears appear to be justified.…
[b]Operational Risk: Losing Focus On Tesla[/b]
[b]Financial Risk: Twitter’s Precarious Financials[/b]
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Musk is likely going to have to inject more cash into the company to keep it afloat. He could try to raise more debt; however, given the fact that Twitter’s lenders are currently doing everything they can to [link=https://www.marketplace.org/2022/11/11/banks-that-helped-finance-musks-twitter-purchase-field-low-bids-for-debt/]offload the $13 billion in LBO loans[/link] on their books, that seems like a non-starter. That leaves equity as the only viable option available. While Musk might be able to convince some additional external investors to stump up more cash, he would likely have to contribute as well. To do so, he would likely have to sell more Tesla stock.[/QUOTE][link=https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/the-myth-of-elon-musk-was-his-most-valuable-asset-twitter-debacle-means-its-over.html]Tech Columnist Jason Aten[/link]: “Once the myth is gone, it’s gone. You can’t will it back into existence. No amount of showmanship can make people believe your narrative once it’s been shown to be a lie. That’s a problem for Musk at Twitter, but it’s an even bigger problem at his other companies. All of those big promises start to look empty once the myth is revealed. Promises of self-driving cars and AI-powered robots just look like hype, which is a problem when you depend on the confidence of your investors.”
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[h3][link=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/23/opinion/musk-is-hurting-tesla-brand.html]Americans Are Realizing Tesla Isn’t the Only Electric Car[/link][/h3]
Farhad Manjoo (NYT): I drove so many electriccars this year. A lot of them as good as or better than Teslas. Elon Musks redpilling is happening at the worst time for Tesla. China production, potential recession and lots of great competition.With such great alternatives that carry none of Musks political baggage, why does Elon keep acting as if customers have no choice as if hes the only game in town?
Tesla spends almost nothing on advertising. Musk is and has long been the companys sole marketer and chief evangelist. Any alteration in Musks cultural standing will affect the companys standing, too.
