For Immediate Release
May 10, 2022
Contact: press@accountabletech.org
Accountable Tech Executive Director Nicole Gill released the following statement Tuesday in response to Elon Musk’s intention to reinstate Donald Trump’s Twitter account if he closes his deal to acquire the platform:
“Let’s be clear: Donald Trump was banned from Twitter in January 2021 for inciting and glorifying violence. His tweets – particularly after the January 6th insurrection – were in clear violation of Twitter’s policies; he was given multiple warnings, which he failed to heed; and his actions ultimately resulted in a permanent suspension.
This is not about Trump. It’s about Elon’s intention to roll back the basic safeguards Twitter has established in recognition of the real-world harm it drives without them – protections against things like targeted harassment, hate speech, violence, and medical misinformation. We can’t let that happen.
That’s why Accountable Tech and our partners have been urging Twitter’s top advertisers – among the only stakeholders with real leverage to influence Elon’s course forward – to demand that accounts in egregious violation of Twitter Rules are kept off the platform. Twitter has a duty to protect its users and the public interest no matter who is sitting in the C-suite, and advertisers have a duty to be responsible stewards of their ad dollars. If Elon won’t fulfill his duty, advertisers should fulfill theirs by dropping the platform altogether.”
###
