Tesla CEO Elon Musk is thinking about creating a new social media platform, following tweets suggesting that Twitter doesn’t adhere to free speech, according to CNBC.
@ElonMusk tweeted a poll saying “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy,” then asking, “Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?”
The poll resulted in 70.4 percent voting No while just 29.6 percent voted Yes on the poll.
Following the initial tweet, @ElonMusk also called Twitter the “de facto public town square,” adding that the platform “failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy.
Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy.
What should be done? https://t.co/aPS9ycji37
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022
Later in the thread, @Musk said, “Is a new platform needed?”
The news comes amidst regulatory scrutiny over Musk and Tesla, largely regarding the content of what he shares with his wide audience.
When asked if he was considering starting his own social media platform, Musk replied, “am giving serious thought to this.”
Am giving serious thought to this
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 27, 2022
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO has previously supported the Canadian ‘Freedom Convoy’, where truckers were protesting against COVID-19 mandates. The truckers were shut down by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who invoked the Emergencies Act to stop protesters and seize their bank accounts, including crypto. Musk compared Trudeau to Adolf Hitler in a meme, which was quickly deleted after uproar.
Earlier this month, Musk requested the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) end their oversight of his Twitter, after the Tesla CEO tweeted in 2018 that he was considering taking the automaker private, saying that he had funding secured.
The SEC responded by saying that Musk needed to abide by his agreement regarding Twitter oversight.
Musk said last month that the SEC had leaked important trade info in the probe.
Tesla also faces a separate SEC investigation after a whistleblower said the company didn’t fully disclose fire risk on its solar panels to its shareholders .
