- The UN human rights chief Volker Türk criticizes the new Twitter owner Elon Musk.
- In an open letter, Türk calls on Musk to respect human rights.
- The resignations of almost all experts on human rights and ethics on Twitter are “not an encouraging start,” wrote Türk.
According to the UN human rights chief, Twitter is part of the global communications revolution. “But I write with concern and unease about our digital public and the role Twitter is playing in it.”
Under Musk’s leadership, human rights must play a central role in the company, the Austrian UN diplomat demanded. Twitter should continue to take responsibility to fight disinformation and hate speech.
dangers of fake news
Türk reminds that online hate and false information about corona vaccinations have already caused concrete damage. At the same time, Twitter must also protect free speech from governments that want to restrict that right, he wrote.
Musk’s conflicting signals about Twitter’s direction have scared off big advertisers like Volkswagen, pharmaceutical company Pfizer or food giant Mondelez, who don’t want to see their ads alongside negative content.
On the one hand, the billionaire has emphasized that the platform’s content rules still apply. On the other hand, he has repeatedly criticized a lack of freedom of speech on Twitter.