African American billionaire and Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Thursday night presided over the account suspensions of many prominent liberal activists and “reporters” from CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post.
The liberals, including CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan, Washington Post reporter Drew Harwell, New York Times reporter Ryan Mac, and leftist internet personality Aaron Rupar, allegedly “doxxed” Musk by posting his real-time location data in “direct violation” of Twitter’s terms of service.
Elon Musk Drops the Hammer, Suspends Accounts of Reporters From CNN, New York Times, and Washington Post From Twitter https://t.co/NYSrpbAlVJ
— Media Right News (@MediaRightNews1) December 16, 2022
When inquired about the suspensions, Musk informed his Twitter followers that the “same doxxing rules apply to ‘journalists’ as to everyone else.”
“They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service,” Musk added.
They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2022
The subject of “doxxing,” otherwise revealing the live-time location, address, or personal information of an individual online, has been a key issue that Musk’s “Twitter 2.0” aims to tackle.
Earlier this week, Musk announced that “any account doxxing real-time location info of anyone will be suspended, as it is a physical safety violation. This includes posting links to sites with real-time location info. Posting locations someone traveled to on a slightly delayed basis isn’t a safety problem, so is ok.”
The Twitter CEO subsequently revealed that a strange man stalked a vehicle carrying his young child after a Central Florida University student named Jack Sweeney posted real-time location data involving his private jet on Twitter.
“Last night, car carrying lil X in LA was followed by crazy stalker (thinking it was me), who later blocked car from moving & climbed onto hood,” Musk said.
Sweeney’s Twitter account, dubbed “@Elonjet” was promptly suspended after “careful review” for posting the location data.
“Legal action is being taken against Sweeney & organizations who supported harm to my family,” Musk added.
Last night, car carrying lil X in LA was followed by crazy stalker (thinking it was me), who later blocked car from moving & climbed onto hood.
Legal action is being taken against Sweeney & organizations who supported harm to my family.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 15, 2022
“Criticizing me all day long is totally fine, but doxxing my real-time location and endangering my family is not,” Musk added in a separate tweet, adding that the accounts which partook in the doxxing will be suspended for 7 days.
Accounts engaged in doxxing receive a temporary 7 day suspension
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 16, 2022
“Accounts engaged in doxxing receive a temporary 7 day suspension,” Musk wrote, noting that “A time delay on reporting location that doesn’t put people at serious risk of being killed is fine.”
