2022-11-07 14:09:39

Musk Fires Half of Twitter’s Workforce; Rights Orgs Urge Boycott of “Superspreader of Misinformation”

Alarm is growing over how the world’s richest person, Elon Musk, is changing Twitter after he spent $44 billion to buy the influential social media platform. Musk fired nearly half of Twitter’s workforce in a mass layoff Friday that gutted teams dedicated to human rights, artificial intelligence ethics and combating election misinformation, just days before Tuesday’s midterm election. This comes after he met with over half a dozen civil rights groups amid concerns he will let misinformation and hate speech go unchecked. We speak with leaders from two of those groups: Nora Benavidez of Free Press and Free Press Action Fund, and Rashad Robinson of Color of Change. “Self-regulated companies are unregulated companies,” says Robinson, who along with Benavidez says Musk has exacerbated already toxic conditions at Twitter and failed to see the “real and porous relationship between the online world and this offline real world.” Both groups are urging advertisers to boycott Twitter unless Musk takes dramatic actions to safeguard rights on the platform.

Democracy Now! produces a daily, global, independent news hour hosted by award-winning journalists Amy Goodman and Juan González. Our reporting includes breaking daily news headlines and in-depth interviews with people on the front lines of the world’s most pressing issues. 

On DN!, you’ll hear a diversity of voices speaking for themselves, providing a unique and sometimes provocative perspective on global events.

Missed an episode?  Check out DN on FSTV VOD anytime or visit the show page for the latest clips.

#FreeSpeechTV is one of the last standing national, independent news networks committed to advancing progressive social change. 

#FSTV is available on Dish, DirectTV, AppleTV, Roku, Sling, and online at freespeech.org.

artificial intelligence ethics and combating election misinformation Elon Musk Free Press Action Fund Human Rights Rashad Robinson of Color of Change

Politics

Democracy Now! | Power-Held Prejudice: A Deeper Look into Authority and Animosity

Democracy Now! | Power-Held Prejudice: A Deeper Look into Authority and Animosity

The David Pakman Show

The David Pakman Show | Tommy Tuberville Stumbles on IVF Decision

The David Pakman Show | Tommy Tuberville Stumbles on IVF Decision

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Children in are Dying of Malnutrition and U.S. Only Calls for a Six-Week Cease-Fire

Democracy Now! | Children in are Dying of Malnutrition and U.S. Only Calls for a Six-Week Cease-Fire

The Stephanie Miller Show

The Stephanie Miller Show | Don't Underestimate Women This Election Year

The Stephanie Miller Show | Don't Underestimate Women This Election Year

Related

This Week In White Supremacy- Presented by 1HoodMedia

This Week In White Supremacy | Leon Ford: Choose Your Peace

This Week In White Supremacy | Leon Ford: Choose Your Peace

The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show | GM Cries Poverty During UAW Strike Then Announces $10 Billion in Stock Buyback

The Rick Smith Show | GM Cries Poverty During UAW Strike Then Announces $10 Billion in Stock Buyback

The Rick Smith Show

The Rick Smith Show | A Possible Win For The Working Class

The Rick Smith Show | A Possible Win For The Working Class

Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! | Is Biden Putting His Possible Second Term At Risk?

Democracy Now! | Is Biden Putting His Possible Second Term At Risk?

Proud Partners