The takeover of Twitter is not yet a done deal, but billionaire Elon Musk is already getting involved in the short message service business. In an open letter, the Tesla boss turns to advertisers and tries to dispel resentment.
Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter isn't complete yet, but the tech billionaire is already getting involved in the online network's business. In an open letter to Twitter's advertisers, the Tesla boss reiterated his motives for the $44 billion deal and countered concerns that the platform could become a hotbed of hate speech and hate speech.
"It is important for the future of civilization to have a common digital hub where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy way without resorting to violence," Musk wrote on Twitter. The short message service should not become a "place of horror" where everything can be said without consequences.
There is a "great danger" of fragmentation of the online platforms into an extreme right and an extreme left camp, Musk continued. That would lead to "more hatred and division". Twitter must therefore be "warm and inviting for everyone". Musk had previously justified the purchase with the desire to strengthen freedom of speech. Critics are concerned that the change in ownership will result in less moderated content on the network, fueling hatred and hate speech. That could deter advertisers.
The deal has not yet been officially completed and confirmed by Twitter. But the fact that Musk is already interfering in management and speaking in the past tense of having bought Twitter points to an imminent execution. The transaction must be completed by Friday at 5:00 p.m. local time (11:00 p.m. CEST), otherwise the deal, which has been contentious for months, will end up in court after all. This deadline was imposed by a judge to regulate the takeover that has been disputed between Musk and Twitter for months.
Musk had actually agreed on the takeover with Twitter in April. In July, however, he voided the agreement over alleged misrepresentations by the company about fake accounts. Twitter sued for compliance with the purchase agreement and a court case was scheduled to resolve the dispute. In early October, Musk surprisingly renewed his purchase offer, but made it a condition that the court case be settled.
