By Jon Dougherty. Media: Explain America.
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Billionaire Twitter CEO Elon Musk responded with a warning of sorts after the Biden administration declared in an ominous statement on Monday that it was “keeping a close eye” on the platform.
During the daily press conference, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre responded to a question from Reuters correspondent Andrea Shalal, who asked if the administration was doing anything to prevent Twitter from becoming a “vector for misinformation.” At Monday’s White House press conference, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed that the Biden administration is “keeping a close eye” on Twitter after Reuters’ Andrea Shalal asked what is being done to prevent the platform from becoming a “vector for misinformation.”
“There’s a researcher at Stanford who says that this is a critical moment, really, in terms of ensuring that Twitter does not become a vector of misinformation,” Shalal claimed. “Elon Musk says there’s more and more subscribers coming online, are you concerned about that, and what tools do you have – who is it at the White House that is really keeping track of this?”
“So, look, this is something that we’re certainly keeping an eye on. And, look, we — you know, we have always been very clear and — that when it comes to social media platforms, it is their responsibility to make sure that when it comes to misinformation, when we — when it comes to the hate that we’re seeing, that they take action, that they continue to take action,” the spokeswoman responded, without providing any specifics.
“Again, we’re all keeping a close eye on this. We’re all monitoring what’s — what’s currently occurring. And we see — you know, we see it with our own eyes of what you all are reporting and, just for ourselves, what’s happening on Twitter. But again, social media companies have a responsibility to prevent their platforms from being used by any user to incite violence, especially violence directed at individual communities, as we have been seeing,” she added, again without elaborating.
A video of the exchange was posted on Twitter by conservative commentator Dave Rubin, who wrote: “Absolutely insane watching The Machine go after @elonmusk for defending free speech. This whole exchange is kabuki theater, from the ridiculous leading question by the ‘journalist’ to KJP’s obviously pre-planned response.”
Musk then responded to Rubin: “Why are so many in the media against free speech? This is messed up.”
Absolutely insane watching The Machine go after @elonmusk for defending free speech. This whole exchange is kabuki theater, from the ridiculous leading question by the “journalist” to KJP’s obviously pre-planned response. https://t.co/JBCnwQ8d6c
— Dave Rubin (@RubinReport) November 28, 2022
Several Twitter users voiced their solidarity with and support for Musk’s position, noting that the left-leaning mainstream media seems determined to limit speech and viewpoints.
“Their world view doesn’t rely on truth. It relies on emotion and truth interferes with that. Freedom of speech interferes with them controlling the narrative. And here you are to flip that,” RedState columnist Buzz Patterson tweeted.
Radio host Gerry Callahan noted: “So messed up, so wrong, so unAmerican. Musk should be viewed as a hero for what he’s doing for free speech. Instead the media want the federal government to crush him. Freaking insanity.”
“This is about raw power, and control over the flow of information. The same principle underlies the battle over ‘Spanish-language disinformation,’” director of Media Research Center Latino Jorge Bonilla explained, as Fox News Digital reported.
“They’re literally scared to death of Twitter 2.0. Massive implications for the future, especially in politics,” PJ Media columnist Ryan Ledendecker remarked.
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said: “The media loves freedom of the press, but free speech opens the door for the media to be challenged.”
The White House comments come amid a brewing battle between Musk and Apple amid reports the tech giant is considering removing the Twitter app from its App Store.
“Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?,” Musk said in a tweet. He later tagged Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook’s Twitter account in another tweet, asking “what’s going on here?”
That led The Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway to blast Republicans in Congress for their silence on the matter in a tweet that contained a video clip of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) calling on lawmakers to respond if Apple follows through with kicking Twitter out of its App Store.
“One of the most INFURIATING things about the current moment is the utter and complete silence and weakness of roughly 100% of DC establishment Republicans. Every single elected GOP person with a brain and/or spine or even a freaking PULSE should be saying at least this much,” she wrote.
One of the most INFURIATING things about the current moment is the utter and complete silence and weakness of roughly 100% of DC establishment Republicans. Every single elected GOP person with a brain and/or spine or even a freaking PULSE should be saying at least this much. https://t.co/cA7YpaI4M6
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) November 29, 2022