He's really said more about himself and what his tolerances are than anything about what Alex did. He's admitted to being the sole moderator of content. That's fine, it's his house - but there is no middle ground here. Can't wash his hands of some decisions by claiming "Vox Populi", but take a hands on approach for others. He's the publisher. EVERYTHING is his speech now, and he should be open to legal liability for anything conveyed on the platform.
On a personal level, we also can assume Musk is fine with any disgusting vile content that does get through the censors. Not "Oh I vehemently disagree, but I allow everyone to speak." No he's literally in favor of "muh anti-semites", terrorists, MAPs, pornographers, drug dealers, leaders of enemy states, brutal dictators, and lawyers using his service to get their message out. Because otherwise he would censor them too, no? It's just that AJ happens to be worse than all those.
Or... let's breath in that Copium for a moment and believe this is a 4d chess gambit, wherein he will eventually trick the ADL and his moderating council to make that exact argument.
"You moderated Jones. There's no excuse for you to allow vile anti-semites a platform."
"Good point. I'm unbanning AJ."
How about another excuse: He's playing "Good Cop Bad Cop." When his moderation council quietly unbans AJ in the future, this display of virtue lets him act all disgusted and still get invited to fancy celebrity parties to say "Fuck it, you all know I wanted to keep the bastard off but I don't interfere in moderation decisions."
I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt. Pretty much every "free speech absolutist" has proven themselves a phony.
He's really said more about himself and what his tolerances are than anything about what Alex did. He's admitted to being the sole moderator of content. That's fine, it's his house - but there is no middle ground here. He can't wipe your hands of some decisions and claim "Vox Populi", but take a hands on approach for others. He's the publisher. EVERYTHING is his speech now, and he should be open to legal liability for anything conveyed on the platform.
On a personal level, we also can assume Musk is fine with any disgusting vile content that does get through the censors. Not "Oh I vehemently disagree, but I allow everyone to speak." No he's literally in favor of "muh anti-semites", terrorists, MAPs, pornographers, drug dealers, leaders of enemy states, brutal dictators, and lawyers using his service to get their message out. Because otherwise he would censor them too, no? It's just that AJ happens to be worse than all those.
Or... let's breath in that Copium for a moment and believe this is a 4d chess gambit, wherein he will eventually trick the ADL and his moderating council to make that exact argument.
"You moderated Jones. There's no excuse for you to allow vile anti-semites a platform."
"Good point. I'm unbanning AJ."
How about another excuse: He's playing "Good Cop Bad Cop." When his moderation council quietly unbans AJ in the future, this display of virtue lets him act all disgusted and still get invited to fancy celebrity parties to say "Fuck it, you all know I wanted to keep the bastard off but I don't interfere in moderation decisions."
I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt. Pretty much every "free speech absolutist" has proven themselves a phony.
He's really said more about himself and what his tolerances are than anything about what Alex did. He's admitted to being the sole moderator of content. That's fine, it's his house - but there is no middle ground here. He can't wipe your hands of some decisions and claim "Vox Populi", but take a hands on approach for others. He's the publisher. EVERYTHING is his speech now, and he should be open to legal liability for anything conveyed on the platform.
On a personal level, we also can assume Musk is fine with any disgusting vile content that does get through the censors. Not "Oh I vehemently disagree, but I allow everyone to speak." No he's literally OK with "muh anti-semites", terrorists, MAPs, pornographers, drug dealers, leaders of enemy states, brutal dictators, and lawyers using his service to get their message out. Because otherwise he would censor them too, no? It's just that AJ happens to be worse than all those.
Or... let's breath in that Copium for a moment and believe this is a 4d chess gambit, wherein he will eventually trick the ADL and his moderating council to make that exact argument.
"You moderated Jones. There's no excuse for you to allow vile anti-semites a platform."
"Good point. I'm unbanning AJ."
How about another excuse: He's playing "Good Cop Bad Cop." When his moderation council quietly unbans AJ in the future, this display of virtue lets him act all disgusted and still get invited to fancy celebrity parties to say "Fuck it, you all know I wanted to keep the bastard off but I don't interfere in moderation decisions."
I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt. Pretty much every "free speech absolutist" has proven themselves a phony.