X will strip potential to dam accounts, says Musk

AFP / Stefani Reynolds

Social media firm X, previously referred to as Twitter, will take away a protecting function that lets customers block different accounts, proprietor Elon Musk stated in one other controversial transfer for the corporate he purchased final 12 months.

The block perform on X permits customers to limit particular accounts from contacting them, seeing their posts or following them.

“Block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs,” Musk stated in a submit on the platform, referring to direct messages.

He stated X would retain the mute perform, which screens a consumer from seeing specified accounts however, in contrast to blocking, doesn’t alert the opposite account to the motion.

The billionaire proprietor has described himself as a free speech absolutist, however some critics have stated his method is irresponsible. Researchers have discovered elevated hate speech and antisemitic content material on the platform since he took over, and a few governments have accused the corporate of not doing sufficient to average its content material.

Removing or limiting the block function would possibly deliver X into battle with pointers integrated by Apple’s App Store and Alphabet’s Google Play.

Apple says apps with user-generated content material will need to have the flexibility to dam abusive customers. Google Play Store says apps should present an in-app system for blocking user-generated content material and customers.

X, Google and Apple didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

Responding to a submit from anti-bullying activist Monica Lewinsky urging X to maintain the “critical tool to keep people safe online”, Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino defended Musk’s transfer.

“Our users’ safety on X is our number one priority. And we’re building something better than the current state of block and mute. Please keep the feedback coming,” Yaccarino posted.

The firm has stated Musk would lead the product and engineering groups, whereas Yaccarino would lead all different groups, together with authorized and gross sales.