Former New York Times editor Bari Weiss said Twitter owner Elon Musk’s decision to suspend accounts of journalists “reporting” on the ban of “Elon Jets” was reminiscent of the platform’s “old regime.”
Weiss, along with other critics of Musk, suggested the tech billionaire’s suspension of journalists appeared to be arbitrary.
“The old regime at Twitter governed by its own whims and biases and it sure looks like the new regime has the same problem,” Weiss said Friday morning. “I oppose it in both cases. And I think those journalists who were reporting on a story of public importance should be reinstated.”
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.
— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) December 16, 2022
Weiss discussed the hypocrisy of the suspended users in a follow up tweet noting the journalists had previously supported bans violating previous “safety” standards prior to Musk’s October acquisition of the company.
“I don’t need to dwell on how mesmerizing it is to watch those journalists who defended—even celebrated!—Twitter’s bans under the old regime under the guise of ‘safety’ now call it censorship, and say it infringes on freedom of expression.”
She added: “It did then as it does now.”
I don't need to dwell on how mesmerizing it is to watch those journalists who defended—even celebrated!—Twitter's bans under the old regime under the guise of "safety" now call it censorship, and say it infringes on freedom of expression. It did then as it does now.
— Bari Weiss (@bariweiss) December 16, 2022
One journalist, who assumed the moniker “Billboard Chris” after appearing in public wearing signs with statements critical of mainstream liberal sentiments, criticized Weiss, saying sharing the “real-time location” of Musk’s jet was not “a story of public interest.”
“Bad take,” he wrote. “It’s being done to bring harassment and danger upon himself and his family. If a right wing journalist had posted his location or links to it, that journalist would also be suspended. This is not bias.”
Bad take. His real-time location is not “a story of public interest.” It’s being done to bring harassment and danger upon himself and his family.
If a right wing journalist had posted his location or links to it, that journalist would also be suspended.
This is not bias.
— Billboard Chris 🇨🇦🇺🇸 (@BillboardChris) December 16, 2022
Journalist Christopher Rufo, who has followed the implementation of Critical Race Theory in schools, suggested that, in order to differentiate from previous seemingly arbitrary censorship, the platform needed a “clear, consistent set of rules applied transparently, with the possibility of appeal.”
“Most bans should be temporary and a wide discourse should be permitted,” Rufo said, suggesting his disapproval of permanent bans. “The platform is better with a broad set of opinions and open, defined standards of moderation.”
“Doxxing should be prohibited and a 7-day suspension for the first offense seems reasonable,” Rufo continued in a separate tweet. “But it should be a clear policy, not a changing standard. Arbitrary enforcement was bad before and it’s bad now. Nobody should take Rupar seriously, but he should be on Twitter.”
Doxxing should be prohibited and a 7-day suspension for the first offense seems reasonable. But it should be a clear policy, not a changing standard. Arbitrary enforcement was bad before and it's bad now. Nobody should take Rupar seriously, but he should be on Twitter.
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) December 16, 2022
Timcast CEO Tim Pool noted on Twitter Musk was using a Privacy ICAO Address (PIA), a program which allows operators to use alternate ICAO aircraft addresses that are not tied to an aircraft in the Civil Aviation Registry (CAR), on his private jet.
PIA addresses, implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), are used in U.S registered and 1090 MHz ADS-B equipped aircrafts, along with aircrafts using a third-party call sign or flying in domestic U.S. airspace, to address privacy concerns
“Jack Sweeney was not posting Public information Sweeney was posting the private information of @elonmusk and he knew Elon had a ‘PIA’ which seeks to protect the privacy of entities using private aircraft,” said Pool, who provided an archived link to “Elon Jets” account owner Jack Sweeney’s January tweet confirming he had “identified” Musk’s PIA.
Correct
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2022
“Elon got PIA but I’ve already identified it!” Sweeney said in the archived tweet.
Pool further noted Sweeney “bragged” about his ability to code software to identify “monthly” changes to the jet’s PIA CAO tracking.
“The PIA ICAO can be changed monthly if chosen to do so but even then, it’s relatively easy to identify I’m confident I can write software to identify it actually,” said Sweeney in a screenshot shared by Pool.
In response to Pool’s tweet, Musk said, “Correct.”
