Social Media

Semafor reports: Trump has been working on a merger deal between the platform, which is privately owned by Trump Media & Technology Group, and Digital World Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that would take Trump’s business public, making it accountable to investors. Since Trump is a core part of Truth Social’s value, rejoining Twitter could create some …

The Guardian reports: Elon Musk has announced the reinstatement of Donald Trump’s Twitter account after users on the social media platform voted by a slim majority to lift a ban on the former US president. Trump’s account was suspended in 2021 after the 6 January Capitol riot for violating Twitter guidelines and the risk of “further incitement of violence”. Musk, …

TMZ reports: CBS has started what could be a devastating ripple effect on Twitter, hitting the pause button, indefinitely, on posting new tweets amid uncertainty under Elon Musk’s stewardship. The network’s news division, CBS News, announced Friday it’d be suspending all Twitter activity from its official profiles as it continues to monitor things. CBS News says it’s doing this out …

The Daily Beast reports: Twitter czar Elon Musk sparked fresh controversy late Friday with a poll shared on the social media platform asking users whether or not they’d like to “reinstate former President Trump.” The post, which came amid fresh chaos at the company after Musk’s $44 billion takeover just three weeks ago, seemed likely to inflame concerns about disinformation …

The Daily Beast reports: Elon Musk received blowback from right-wing activists on Friday after responding “no” to a user urging the new Twitter chief to reinstate conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Almost immediately, right-wingers and members of the far-right called out Musk—who fashions himself a free-speech warrior. “Elon’s free speech claim quickly shown to be bullshit lol,” right-wing YouTuber Tim Pool …

Axios reports: Elon Musk on Friday announced Twitter would deemphasize “hate” or “negative” tweets and that it’s reinstated some accounts that had been suspended both before and after Musk acquired the company. Musk originally said he wouldn’t make any new content moderation decisions until a new “content moderation council” with “diverse views” convenes. To date, Musk has not publicly disclosed …

Reuters reports: Seven Democratic senators sent a letter on Thursday to the Federal Trade Commission, warning that Twitter, now owned by Elon Musk, was acting in disregard of users and urging the agency to investigate any breach of a consent decree that the FTC inked with Twitter. The lawmakers, including Senators Richard Blumenthal and Elizabeth Warren, asked the agency to …

The BBC reports: Twitter has told employees that the company’s office buildings will be temporarily closed, with immediate effect. In a message seen by the BBC, workers were told that the offices would reopen on Monday 21 November. It did not give a reason for the move. The announcement comes amid reports that large numbers of staff were quitting after …

The New York Times reports: Hours before a Thursday deadline that Elon Musk had given Twitter employees to decide whether to stay or leave their jobs, the social media company appeared to be in disarray. Mr. Musk and his advisers held meetings with some Twitter workers whom they deemed “critical” to stop them from leaving. He sent out confusing messages …

Reuters reports: Elon Musk said on Wednesday he expected to reduce his time at Twitter and eventually find a new leader to run the social media company, adding that he hoped to complete an organizational restructuring this week. Musk made the remarks while testifying in a Delaware court to defend against claims that his $56 billion pay package at Tesla …

Politico reports: Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden said Elon Musk’s $44 billion purchase of Twitter needs a “careful review” by Congress, with a particular focus on the Saudi government’s large investment in the deal. “I’m on the Intelligence Committee. I’m chair of the Finance Committee. I’m not taking anything off the table right now,” Wyden (D-Ore.) said in an interview on …

Reuters reports: Billionaire Elon Musk said on Monday he was working “at the absolute most amount…from morning til night, seven days a week” when asked about his recent acquisition of Twitter and his leadership of automaker Tesla. “I have too much work on my plate that is for sure,” Musk said by videolink to a business conference on the sidelines …

CNBC reports: Elon Musk’s aerospace business SpaceX has ordered one of the larger advertising packages available from Twitter, the social media business he just acquired in a $44 billion deal and where he is now serving as CEO. The campaign will promote the SpaceX-owned and -operated satellite internet service called Starlink on Twitter in Spain and Australia, according to internal …

Axios reports: Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) on Sunday threatened Elon Musk to “fix” his companies “or Congress will,” hours after Musk mocked the senator for demanding answers about Twitter’s verification process. Driving the news: The exchange comes days after Markey tweeted to Musk, attaching a letter, demanding Twitter to explain how a Washington Post reporter was able to successfully set …

The Guardian reports: Twitter’s relaunched premium service – which grants blue check verification labels to anyone willing to pay $8 a month – was unavailable on Friday after the social media platform was flooded by a wave of imposter accounts approved by Twitter. Before billionaire Elon Musk took control of the social media platform two weeks ago the blue check …

CNBC reports: The Federal Trade Commission is closely watching Twitter’s moves under new owner Elon Musk, a spokesperson said in a statement Thursday. The agency struck a settlement with Twitter earlier, which granted it oversight of certain security and privacy practices at the company. “We are tracking recent developments at Twitter with deep concern,” an FTC spokesperson said in a …

The Verge reports: Two other top Twitter executives are leaving the company. Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of trust and safety, and Robin Wheeler, the head of ad sales, are both out. First reported by Platformer’s Zoe Schiffer and Casey Newton, the news was confirmed to The Verge’s Alex Heath by two people familiar with the matter. The two executives resigned, …

The Washington Post reports: Several top privacy and security executives resigned from Twitter on Thursday, citing fears over the risks from Elon Musk’s leadership, a stunning exodus that prompted federal regulators to warn they might step in. Chief Information Security Officer Lea Kissner tweeted Thursday morning that they had made the “hard decision” to resign, and the company’s chief privacy …

Reuters reports: Twitter’s new owner Elon Musk told advertisers on Wednesday he aimed to turn the social media platform into a force for truth and stop fake accounts in an effort to assuage brands and advertising agencies that have increasingly been backing away. Days after Twitter rattled users and advertisers by cutting half its staff, over 100,000 listeners tuned in …

CNN Business reports: Twitter appears to be battling a wave of celebrity and corporate impersonators on its platform who have quickly gamed the company’s new paid verification system, hours after its launch. The fake verified accounts had posed as former President Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani, Nintendo of America, the basketball player LeBron James, the software company Valve and others. The …