Twitter has all the time been considerably chaotic, however new CEO Elon Musk is taking it to an entire new stage. He is been making dramatic modifications since he purchased the corporate for $44 billion on Oct. 27, together with shedding half the employees; altering moderation and verification insurance policies; and unbanning extremist accounts.

This is the newest information about Musk’s takeover of Twitter:

Dec. 29: Twitter faces questions on claimed hack

A European watchdog is reportedly planning to research Twitter after a hacker claimed to have stolen non-public particulars of greater than 400 million accounts. The BBC reported Thursday that Eire’s Information Safety Fee mentioned it can “look at Twitter’s compliance with data-protection legislation” in relation to issues concerning the hack, particulars of which had been circulating round Twitter for the previous few days. 

The Guardian wrote on Wednesday that knowledge included within the hack appeared to contain accounts for mannequin Cara Delevingne, New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and pop singer Shawn Mendes.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark from CNET, nor, seemingly, from the BBC or Guardian both.

Dec. 22: Twitter lays off extra employees

Twitter is not executed gutting its workforce. Theodora Skeadas, who labored on public coverage at Twitter, tweeted that the corporate lower half of the corporate’s public coverage staff. One unnamed former worker instructed CNN Twitter’s public coverage staff had greater than 60 staff earlier than Musk took over. Now that staff has roughly 15 staff.

Reuters additionally reported that Sinead McSweeney, Twitter’s world vice chairman for public coverage, has left the corporate. The departures are the newest in a string of large job cuts to hit Twitter as Musk appears to be like to chop extra prices. He is reportedly lower employees from greater than 7,000 to lower than 2,000. The layoffs and departure of key executives have raised questions on whether or not Twitter can survive. 

Twitter and McSweeney did not instantly reply to a request for remark. California’s Employment Improvement Division mentioned it is trying into whether or not Twitter filed a discover concerning the layoffs. 

Dec 20: Musk says he’ll resign as CEO

Musk tweeted he would step down as CEO as quickly as he finds “somebody silly sufficient to take the job!” He added that he’ll nonetheless stay on the firm to “run the software program & servers groups.”

The announcement got here after nearly all of Twitter customers who voted in a ballot mentioned Musk ought to step down from the job.

Dec. 19: Twitter customers vote for Musk to step down

Roughly 17.5 million Twitter customers voted in a ballot asking if Musk ought to step down. About 57.5% of these polled voted sure and 42.5% voted no. 

Twitter customers additionally weighed in on whether or not the corporate ought to “have a coverage stopping the creation of or use of current accounts for the primary goal of promoting different social media platforms?” Roughly 87% of 326,890 customers who voted mentioned no.

Dec. 18: Twitter bans hyperlinks to rival social networks, reverses coverage after outcry

Twitter mentioned it could ban hyperlinks to different social networks similar to Fb, Instagram, Mastodon, Reality Social, Tribel, Nostr and Submit and droop accounts that attempted to direct customers to those websites. 

After consumer backlash, Twitter deleted the brand new coverage towards selling different social media websites and created a ballot concerning the thought.

“Going ahead, there shall be a vote for main coverage modifications. My apologies. Will not occur once more,” Musk tweeted.

Musk additionally created a ballot asking if he ought to step down as head of Twitter.

Dec. 17: Journalists’ accounts start reappearing

Musk tweeted that accounts suspended in relation to his dispute with @ElonJet would have their suspensions lifted, based mostly on a public ballot he’d carried out on Twitter. As of Dec. 17, @ElonJet remained suspended however some journalists’ accounts had reappeared, together with Twitter rival Mastodon’s. CNN reported on Dec. 17 that although the journalists’ accounts have been once more seen, the journalists aren’t allowed to tweet till they take away sure @ElonJet-related posts that Musk claims go towards Twitter’s guidelines (the journalists dispute Musk’s declare). 

Twitter, which not has a communications division, did not instantly reply to a request for touch upon the CNN report. The abrupt suspensions and Musk’s conflicting remarks have made it even more durable to determine how Twitter’s content material moderation works — extra on that right here.

Dec. 15: Musk suspends journalists on Twitter

Twitter all of a sudden suspended the accounts of a number of tech journalists, together with reporters for CNN, The New York Occasions and The Washington Submit. Most of the reporters had just lately tweeted about Musk’s dispute with the @ElonJet account, which tracked his non-public aircraft utilizing publicly accessible knowledge. That account had been suspended on Dec. 14, and Musk tweeted on Dec. 15 that the identical rule that utilized in that case utilized to journalists as properly, including later that the suspensions would final seven days. 

The suspensions sparked an outcry, with the president of the Society of Skilled Journalists saying, “Twitter’s motion impacts all journalists and goes towards Musk’s promise to uphold free speech on the platform.” European officers additionally voiced issues. The vice chairman for values and transparency for the European Fee referred to as the suspensions “worrying.” An account that helped Twitter customers join at rival social community Mastodon was additionally suspended on Dec. 15. ElonJet has an account on Mastodon. Learn the complete story on the suspensions right here.

Dec. 14: @ElonJet account will get suspended

The Twitter account @ElonJet, which tracked Elon Musk’s non-public aircraft utilizing publicly accessible flight monitoring knowledge, was suspended. This system was created by College of Central Florida pupil Jack Sweeney, who highlighted the change on his private account and famous that Twitter had beforehand restricted @ElonJet’s visibility on the platform. Sweeney’s private account has been suspended as properly, together with a bunch of different flight tracker accounts.

Final month, Musk mentioned his dedication to free speech was so robust that the account would not be banned although he thought of it a “direct private security danger.” 

In a tweet, Musk defined his change of stance, saying, “real-time posting of another person’s location violates doxxing coverage, however delayed posting of places are okay.” 

Twitter’s Personal info and media coverage web page says dwell location info like journey routes is a violation of its coverage. It seems this can be a change that occurred on Dec. 14: An archived model of the web page discovered on Wayback Machine and dated Dec. 13 does not embody this info. 

Sweeney’s program stays accessible on Fb, Instagram and different social media. It additionally posted on open-source social community Mastodon for the primary time. 

Neither Twitter nor Sweeney responded to requests for remark.

Dec 12: Twitter disbands Belief and Security Council

Twitter is dissolving its Belief and Security Council, which included professional organizations who suggested the corporate on points similar to on-line security, harassment, little one sexual exploitation and different necessary subjects.

A web page for the council is not accessible however an archived model confirmed the council was made up of the Anti-Defamation League, the Heart for Democracy and Expertise, the Trevor Undertaking and extra. The transfer comes after three members of the council resigned due to consumer security issues and it raises questions on how Twitter will correctly sort out dangerous content material transferring ahead.

In an e mail seen by varied media retailers together with CNN and The Washington Submit, Twitter instructed members of its Belief and Security Council that it is reassessing one of the best ways to “deliver exterior insights” into its “product and coverage improvement work.”

“As a part of this course of, we’ve determined that the Belief and Security Council shouldn’t be the perfect construction to do that,” the e-mail mentioned, noting that it is dedicated to security on the platform. Twitter, which not has a communications division, did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Twitter relaunches subscription service

Twitter relaunched its subscription service Twitter Blue, charging $11 per 30 days for Apple machine customers and $8 per 30 days for individuals who use the online model of the platform. Twitter Blue contains options similar to a method to edit a tweet and a blue checkmark as soon as the corporate evaluations the account. The social community handled a flood of imposter accounts when it began revamping its verification system however Twitter made modifications to assist sort out the issue. A Twitter consumer’s account should be at the very least 90 days previous and make sure their telephone quantity to subscribe to Twitter Blue.

The corporate additionally began rolling out gold badges for companies and plans to determine authorities organizations with grey verify marks. Musk reiterated in a tweet that he plans to eliminate blue verify marks for customers beforehand verified for being notable, lively and genuine in just a few months.

Dec. 10: Twitter Blue to relaunch, with blue verify marks, ‘evaluate’ course of

In a tweet thread, the social community mentioned its Twitter Blue subscription service would relaunch on Dec. 12 and that subscribers will get a blue verify mark as soon as their account “has been reviewed.” It did not, nevertheless, give particulars concerning the vetting course of. The social community’s longstanding blue verification badge, that includes a verify mark, was initially designed to indicate that verified customers really are who they are saying they’re. And Musk’s need to tie the badge to a paid subscription prompted critics to name the authentication image meaningless. Musk’s technique additionally led to chaos when Twitter Blue was initially relaunched and a few subscribers hid behind the verify marks to impersonate others (together with Musk himself). The service was placed on maintain however will now, apparently, reappear. Extra particulars right here.

Dec. 8: Musk guarantees to inform Twitter customers if they have been shadow banned

Musk mentioned the corporate is engaged on a course of to tell Twitter customers whether or not their tweets have been suppressed underneath a course of referred to as shadow banning and allow them to attraction the scenario. The announcement got here as journalist Bari Weiss printed screenshots of firm paperwork suggesting Twitter staff downplayed conservative voices on the platform.

“Twitter is engaged on a software program replace that may present your true account standing,” Musk mentioned in a tweet. “So you already know clearly if you happen to’ve been shadowbanned, the explanation why and find out how to attraction.”

Like different social media websites, Twitter has been accused of suppressing sure forms of political speech on the platform — a observe known as shadowbanning, wherein a remark or put up is made seen solely to the consumer who created it.

Dec. 7: Twitter will reportedly enhance Blue pricing on Apple gadgets

Twitter instructed staff that it intends to cost $7 a month for its Twitter Blue premium service if subscribers pay for it on-line, in keeping with The Info. Musk beforehand prompt it could value $8 a month.

Nonetheless, the report additionally famous that Twitter Blue would value $11 for individuals who subscribe by way of the iPhone app. The value enhance looks as if a response to the 30% lower Apple takes on iOS purchases.

Neither Apple nor Twitter instantly responded to requests for remark.

Dec. 3: Apple reportedly resumes Twitter advert campaigns

Apple has “totally resumed” its promoting on Twitter, in keeping with Bloomberg. The corporate reportedly spends greater than $100 million to promote on the platform every year. Bloomberg’s report got here after Musk met with Apple boss Tim Prepare dinner, with the Musk additionally tweeting his thanks to advertisers for returning to the location. 

Amazon paused a few of its promoting campaigns on Twitter, in keeping with tech outlet Platformer’s Zoë Schiffer. however is reportedly planning to extend advert spending on the platform to $100 million yearly.

Neither Twitter nor Apple responded to requests for remark. Amazon declined to remark.

Dec 2: Researchers say hate speech surged on Twitter after Musk takeover

Researchers are pushing again towards Musk’s declare that hate speech has declined on the platform since he bought the corporate.

Tweets containing hateful slurs rose after Musk took over the social media platform on Oct. 27, in keeping with analysis from the nonprofit Heart for Countering Digital Hate. 

Researchers in contrast the common every day tweets from the week earlier than Musk’s takeover (Sept. 27 to Oct. 26) to the week as much as Musk’s declare about hate speech falling (Nov. 18 to Nov. 24). A slur used towards Black folks was in 30,546 tweets, triple the speed earlier than Musk’s takeover, the analysis confirmed. Tweets with slurs towards homosexual males, transgender folks, Jewish folks and Latinos additionally elevated throughout that point interval.

Researchers used knowledge from Brandwatch, a social media analytics firm, and the numbers included unique tweets, quote tweets and retweets. The tweets the group analyzed got here from varied locations the world over however included solely these in English. 

Musk disputed the declare on Twitter, posting a chart protecting Oct. 17 to Nov. 30. He mentioned knowledge confirmed the variety of hate speech “impressions,” which he outlined because the variety of occasions a tweet was seen, has declined. The chart reveals hate speech impressions at barely greater than 2.5 million on the finish of November. Musk did not present particulars about how Twitter outlined hate speech or the way it measured these impressions. 

Nov. 30: Musk tweets he met with Apple CEO, tries to reassure manufacturers

Musk tweeted that he met with Apple CEO Tim Prepare dinner and toured the iPhone maker’s headquarters. Musk has been criticizing Apple this week, alleging with out providing proof that the corporate censors voices, has a “secret 30% tax” on App Retailer purchases and threatened to withhold Twitter from the App retailer. Apple did not reply to a request for remark about Musk’s tweet. 

“Good dialog,” Musk mentioned in a separate tweet. “Amongst different issues, we resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter doubtlessly being faraway from the App Retailer. Tim was clear that Apple by no means thought of doing so.”

Musk seems to be making an attempt to reassure manufacturers that is perhaps cautious about promoting on Twitter. Musk additionally retweeted a Twitter weblog put up that states model security continues to be one of many firm’s high priorities and none of Twitter’s insurance policies has modified. However the firm has stopped imposing its guidelines towards deceptive COVID-19 info, and Musk has mentioned he would grant “amnesty” to suspended accounts, permitting them to return to the location if “they haven’t damaged the legislation or engaged in egregious spam.”

EU warns Musk that Twitter faces potential ban

Thierry Breton, the European Union’s commissioner for the interior market, instructed Musk that Twitter may very well be banned within the area or hit with a positive of as much as 6% of its world turnover if the corporate does not stick with the EU’s guidelines on content material moderation, in keeping with the Monetary Occasions.

Twitter should adhere to the Digital Providers Act, mentioned Breton, who apparently instructed Musk he should finish his “arbitrary” strategy to reinstating banned customers, should pursue disinformation “aggressively” and should conform to an “intensive impartial audit” of Twitter by subsequent yr. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Breton instructed Musk that Twitter had “large work forward” to adjust to European rules, in keeping with a readout of a video name between the 2 offered by Breton’s workplace. The Fee is anticipated to conduct a “stress check” at Twitter’s headquarters in 2023 “to focus on compliance even forward of authorized deadlines, and to organize for an intensive impartial audit.”

Twitter restores Irish exec to job after court docket intervenes

Sinead McSweeney has been reinstated to her position as Twitter’s world vice chairman for public coverage, the Journal.ie reported.  She acquired a short lived injunction from Eire’s Excessive Court docket stopping the corporate from firing her.

McSweeney reasoned that she by no means resigned, however Twitter acted like she was not an worker on the firm after she did not reply to Musk’s Nov. 16 e mail. The e-mail reportedly demanded that every one employees click on “sure” to verify their continued employment on the firm. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 29: COVID-19 misinformation coverage dropped

Like different social media platforms, Twitter spent the previous couple of years battling deceptive details about COVID-19, whether or not it was about faux cures or about harmful conspiracy theories relating to vaccines. However Twitter is not imposing its coverage towards deceptive COVID-19 info as of Nov. 23. 

The corporate did so quietly, and the coverage replace wasn’t noticed for a number of days till CNN, Twitter customers and some different publications seen it. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark and elaboration on the coverage change. 

Twitter Blue rollout reportedly delayed

The launch of tweaked subscription service Twitter Blue has been pushed again, in keeping with The Verge and Platformer, in an try to keep away from Apple’s 30% lower of App Retailer purchases. This adopted Musk tweeting criticism of Apple. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Former exec condemns Musk administration model

Yoel Roth, Twitter’s former head of belief and security, mentioned he left the corporate as a result of he knew Musk’s edict-focused management would in the end permit a “catastrophe” like Twitter Blue verification to roll out regardless of his staff’s recommendation. Roth warned that the corporate shouldn’t be secure with Musk at its helm. Roth’s new feedback observe his Nov. 18 New York Occasions op-ed criticizing Musk’s strategy.

Nov. 28: One worker left on little one security staff

After widespread layoffs and resignations, a staff tasked with figuring out and eradicating little one sexual abuse content material from the location now has just one staffer, in keeping with Wired. It wasn’t instantly clear how many individuals have been on the staff beforehand, however Wired mentioned it had recognized 4 Singapore-based little one security specialists who mentioned they left the corporate in November.

The staff, based mostly at Twitter’s Asian headquarters in Singapore, is liable for imposing the corporate’s ban on little one sexual abuse materials — an ongoing and irritating battle for the social community. Twitter, which makes most of its cash from promoting promoting, mentioned in September it was investigating how advertisements from main manufacturers appeared on profiles that have been soliciting or promoting little one sexual abuse content material.

Twitter representatives did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Congressional Republicans noticed uptick in followers

Within the first few weeks of Musk’s possession of Twitter, a number of high-profile Republican members of Congress noticed their consumer profiles achieve followers, whereas a few of their Democratic counterparts skilled a decline, in keeping with an evaluation by The Washington Submit. 

Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Jordan gained greater than 300,000 every, whereas Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democratic Rep. Adam B. Schiff and impartial Sen. Bernie Sanders all misplaced about 100,000 Twitter followers, the Submit reported. The newspaper mentioned it could not determine what triggered the change however identified it is in keeping with a pattern that began when Musk introduced in April his intention to purchase Twitter.

Nov. 27: Twitter flooded with spam that obscured Chinese language COVID-19 protest tweets

Twitter is grappling with spam tweets after protests about COVID-19 restrictions erupted in China.

The Washington Submit and TechCrunch reported that tweets from Chinese language-language Twitter accounts that had been inactive for months began tweeting hyperlinks to escort, porn and playing companies together with names of main Chinese language cities. That meant that when a Twitter consumer tried to seek for a metropolis in China, their search outcomes have been crammed with spam and so they had a harder time discovering tweets concerning the protests. The difficulty comes as Twitter has a smaller staff to deal with this downside. The Washington Submit reported that staff estimate that the corporate’s workforce has been slashed from 7,500 to 2,000 folks.

Researchers have been preserving an in depth eye on the Chinese language spam. Stanford Web Observatory Director Alex Stamos tweeted that his staff is engaged on their very own evaluation. 

Nov. 26: Musk notes “We’re recruiting”

Should tweeted a group of slides late Saturday, the primary of which famous “we’re recruiting” — after weeks of layoffs, resignations and different defections on the firm. Musk once more claimed engagement is surging on Twitter, sharing slides that claimed new signups and lively minutes have just lately hit file highs. (The figures could not be independently verified.)  He additionally reiterated his ambitions to make Twitter into an “the whole lot app,” sharing mockups of options like encrypted direct messages, longform tweets and funds.

Musk additionally has personally referred to as the CEOs of main manufacturers that halted promoting on Twitter, in keeping with the Monetary Occasions, which cited an unnamed supply. Different manufacturers lowered their spending to a minimal quite than chopping it off totally with a purpose to keep away from confrontation with Musk, the FT reported. 

Nov. 25: Shade-coded ‘verified’ verify marks coming Dec. 2

Simply after midnight Friday, Musk tweeted his latest idea for verification, which is ready to go dwell on Dec. 2. Examine mark badges will are available three colours: gold for corporations, grey for governments and blue for people “celeb or not.” Musk is lumping each famous people and Twitter Blue subscribers collectively within the blue verify bucket, although people also can have a smaller secondary emblem displaying “they belong to an org if verified as such by that org,” Musk defined in a follow-up tweet.

Musk has been twiddling with verified verify marks since he took over. He first tried an $8-per-month Twitter Blue subscription that blurred the road between authenticated people and paid accounts, resulting in a slew of individuals impersonating celebrities and companies that triggered mayhem. Then Twitter added grey verify marks for “official” accounts of governments, media retailers, enterprise companions and “some public figures,” however then eliminated the checks as the corporate dithered on who would get the “official” label. 

The brand new three-color scheme appears designed to cut back impersonations whereas preserving subscriber income. 

Musk additionally famous that “all verified accounts shall be manually authenticated earlier than verify prompts,” although it is unclear whether or not this shall be executed totally by Twitter or if customers shall be concerned in authenticating their id. Twitter didn’t reply to a request for remark. Musk famous {that a} longer rationalization shall be coming subsequent week.

Later within the day Musk floated the potential of creating his personal smartphone if Apple and Google determine besides Twitter from their respective platforms. “I definitely hope it doesn’t come to that, however, sure, if there isn’t a different selection, I’ll make another telephone,” he tweeted in a response to a query concerning the state of affairs. 

Musk supplied few different particulars, however the creation of not only a smartphone, however a rival cellular platform that will get across the Apple App Retailer and Google Play Retailer is extremely tough, requiring a mixture of customized {hardware} and software program. 

Contemplating how stitched Elon is between Twitter, SpaceX and Tesla, moving into the telephone enterprise won’t be the perfect thought. 

Nov. 24: Musk declares ‘amnesty,’ additionally fires engineers earlier than Thanksgiving

After tweeting a non-scientific ballot a day earlier, Musk introduced the outcomes on Thursday. Greater than 72% of three.16 million respondents voted “sure” to the query: “Ought to Twitter supply a normal amnesty to suspended accounts, offered that they haven’t damaged the legislation or engaged in egregious spam?”

“The folks have spoken. Amnesty begins subsequent week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” he tweeted Thursday, referencing a Latin phrase that interprets as “voice of the folks, voice of God.”

Individually, Musk could also be within the operating for this yr’s Ebenezer Scrooge award after reportedly firing roughly 50 engineers proper earlier than Thanksgiving, in keeping with tech e-newsletter Platformer. The e-newsletter was corroborating a report from The Verge that some Twitter engineers obtained emails on Wednesday saying they’d been fired as a result of their “code shouldn’t be passable.” Twitter engineers had earlier been instructed to ship code samples to Musk. His “hardcore” strategy to work is broadly identified inside Silicon Valley, together with at his different corporations the place he is demanded “minimal” 40-hour workweeks from employees.

In the meantime, the Monetary Occasions reported that Twitter disbanded its workplace in Brussels, Belgium, after leaders there exited the corporate. The FT mentioned two of the executives had led Twitter’s efforts to adjust to the EU’s Digital Providers Act, which units guidelines round content material moderation, amongst different issues. Others reportedly managed the corporate’s relationship with European regulators.

Twitter did not instantly reply to requests for remark.

Nov. 23: Musk may reinstate extra suspended accounts

Musk floated the concept of providing “a normal amnesty to suspended accounts” so long as they have not damaged the legislation or engaged in “egregious spam.”

In a tweet, Musk polled customers concerning the thought. It is unclear what number of accounts this potential change would cowl, however some customers have raised issues that doing so would end in extra hate speech and different dangerous content material spreading on the platform. 

Musk has been bringing again accounts that Twitter suspended for violating its guidelines towards hateful conduct, COVID misinformation and glorification of violence. He reinstated former US President Donald Trump’s account after polling customers concerning the thought. Twitter suspended Trump after the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots as a result of the platform feared his tweets may incite extra violence.  

Nov. 22: Musk faucets iPhone hacker for assist

George Hotz, a hacker identified for being the primary individual to jailbreak an iPhone in 2007 and founding autonomous driving startup Comma.ai, accepted a 12-week “internship” at Twitter to assist enhance the social media community’s search features. Hotz and Musk have had an advanced relationship. Hotz has claimed he turned down a job to work at Tesla, whereas Musk has dismissed the notion that Hotz and Comma.ai may create a greater autonomous driving system than Tesla’s Autopilot. 

In the meantime, Twitter is present process a cost-cutting marketing campaign that The New York Occasions stories contains refusing to pay distributors for excellent payments. The price cuts are focusing on infrastructure, journey bills, software program companies and actual estates, the Occasions stories, citing a number of unnamed sources. 

On the similar time, The Washington Submit and trade watchers Pathmatics and Media Issues For America reported that as many as half of Twitter’s high 100 advertisers have both introduced or seemingly stopped spending on the platform. 

Nov. 21: Much more account bans carry, Musk holds off on paid verification relaunch 

Nonetheless extra once-suspended accounts continued to have their bans lifted. On Nov. 21, US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s private Twitter account was unlocked, 10 months after being completely suspended for violating Twitter’s COVID misinformation coverage. However amid the parade of restored accounts, Musk claimed one ban will stay in place: Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. 

Later within the day, Musk tweeted that Twitter is “holding off” the relaunch of paid verification by way of its Twitter Blue subscription service till “there may be excessive confidence of stopping impersonation.” Twitter paused the brand new verification system earlier in November after customers who bought the verified blue verify marks posed as main manufacturers, politicians, athletes and different celebrities. Twitter was anticipated to relaunch paid verification on Nov. 29. Musk tweeted that the corporate will most likely use a special colour verify mark for organizations versus people. 

Nov. 20: Extra suspended accounts revived, World Cup begins

After Musk reversed former US President Donald Trump’s everlasting ban, extra suspended accounts got here again on-line, together with that of Kanye West. Generally known as Ye after altering his title final yr, West tweeted to his 32 million followers for the primary time in two weeks, after he had been locked out for an antisemitic risk. 

Undertaking Veritas, a conservative activist group identified for hidden-camera movies, was additionally reinstated, after being suspended final yr for disclosing folks’s private info, a cost it denied. 

Individually, the FIFA World Cup kicked off. The occasion usually spurs spikes in Twitter utilization, as folks world wide converge to experience real-time updates and posts associated to its matches. Within the flood of utilization, worries persevered that Twitter is perhaps tripped up by outages and disruptions because it copes with working with a fraction of its common employees. However the first day of the match appeared to proceed with out Twitter experiencing any main incidents.

Nov. 19: Musk lets Trump again on Twitter

Elon Musk’s long-expected reversal of Trump’s everlasting ban from Twitter got here true, opening the door for the controversial politician to regain his social media megaphone.

Musk had polled customers on Twitter about whether or not Trump ought to be allowed again onto the platform. The ultimate outcomes of that ballot confirmed 51.8% in favor of reinstating Trump and 48.2% towards.

“The folks have spoken,” Musk tweeted. “Trump shall be reinstated.” An account with the acquainted title @realDonaldTrump confirmed up on the location. Twitter, like different social networks, had booted Trump after the lethal Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots.

Individually, Bloomberg reported that Musk is contemplating firing extra staff on the gross sales and partnership facet. He reportedly requested leaders, together with Robin Wheeler, the top of gross sales and advertising, to fireside extra staff. Wheeler refused and misplaced her job (she lists herself as an ex-Twitter gross sales exec on her profile). 

Twitter, which has laid off its communications division, did not reply to a query despatched to its press e mail.

Nov. 18: Musk asks engineers to come back to the workplace. Beforehand banned accounts get reinstated

Twitter staff have been locked out of the corporate’s headquarters, however Musk reportedly despatched an e mail asking for some software program engineers to go again into the workplace, in keeping with Bloomberg. Musk requested the coders to fulfill with him and supply examples of their coding work with a purpose to assist him higher perceive the software program. 

Musk tweeted concerning the firm’s coverage on speech saying sure tweets is not going to have “freedom of attain.”

“Detrimental/hate tweets shall be max deboosted & demonetized, so no advertisements or different income to Twitter,” he mentioned. “You will not discover the tweet except you particularly search it out, which is not any completely different from remainder of web.”

Musk adopted that tweet with one other saying conservative media persona Jordan Peterson, right-wing satire web site The Babylon Bee and comic Kathy Griffin may have their banned accounts reinstated. Twitter booted Peterson and The Babylon Bee from the platform earlier within the yr over anti-trans tweets whereas Griffin had her account suspended final week for altering it right into a Musk parody account. 

Musk additionally tweeted that Twitter hasn’t decided relating to former President Donald Trump’s account, however Yoel Roth, the previous head of belief and security at Twitter, mentioned in a New York Occasions opinion piece printed Nov. 18 that the ex-president’s reinstatement was “close to certainty.” Twitter banned Trump from its platform in 2021 due to issues his remarks may spark extra violence after the lethal Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riot. 

Roth, who resigned from the corporate, wrote how Musk referred to as for extra censoring of tweets after a surge of hate speech confirmed up on the platform following his takeover. He additionally went on to elucidate the necessity for content material moderation was not solely necessary to maintain advertisers completely happy, however it additionally was wanted to appease app retailer homeowners and authorities entities, such because the European Union, which have legal guidelines towards hate speech. 

In a 24-hour ballot on Twitter, Musk requested customers if Trump’s account ought to be reinstated.

Twitter customers are nonetheless frightened concerning the platform’s potential dying, particularly forward of high-traffic occasions such because the FIFA World Cup that kicks off on Nov. 20. The New York Occasions, citing three folks near the corporate, reported that some estimates confirmed that at the very least 1,200 staff resigned on Nov. 17 after Musk gave them a selection to remain or depart. 

Consumer security is one other huge concern on Twitter. CNN reporter Oliver Darcy tweeted that the White Home is asking Twitter to elucidate the way it’s safeguarding “the security of People’ on-line knowledge.” The White Home did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 17: Twitter customers concern finish is close to. Musk locks workplace doorways. Many staff take severance. Senators need investigation

Twitter customers began tweeting farewell remarks as #RIPTwitter trended on the platform within the US and different elements of the world. 

Fears a few potential collapse of the location got here after tons of of staff determined to depart the corporate earlier within the day. One former Twitter worker instructed The Washington Submit that there is no longer a “skeleton crew manning the system.” 

Twitter “will proceed to coast till it runs into one thing, after which it can cease,” the worker mentioned. 

Musk tweeted a meme with Twitter’s emblem on a headstone. 

The remaining 3,500 or so staff who have been left at Twitter after hundreds have been laid off had a option to make on the finish of the day on Nov. 17: Stay underneath Musk’s plan for an intense “Twitter 2.0” or depart with three months of severance pay.

As much as 75% of remaining staff selected the exit, in keeping with Fortune and Bloomberg, creating confusion about what number of remaining folks would have entry to the places of work. The Verge reported that those that left included some “legendary” engineers and coders.

Across the similar time, the corporate apparently locked the doorways to its San Francisco headquarters till Nov. 21, in keeping with tech e-newsletter Platformer. 

Twitter, which can not have a public relations division, did not reply to a request for remark.

All of this occurred after Musk softened his stance on how he wished to run the brand new Twitter, at the very least considerably. An e mail despatched to Twitter staff on Nov. 9 mentioned distant work can be banned, however an e mail to staff on Nov. 17 said that distant work is feasible if permitted, in keeping with a report from Bloomberg. 

“All that’s required for approval is that your supervisor takes accountability for making certain that you’re making a superb contribution,” Musk mentioned within the e mail. He additionally desires staff to have in-person staff conferences at the very least as soon as a month. 

Twitter can be going through extra scrutiny from US lawmakers.  A gaggle of Democratic senators despatched a letter to Lina Khan, the chairwoman of the US Federal Commerce Fee. Outlined within the letter are what the legislators described as “alarming steps” taken by Musk together with new options which were utilized by scammers, a rise in hate speech and the elimination of cybersecurity executives throughout the firm, doubtlessly placing customers’ private knowledge in danger. 

The senators level out that these actions may place the corporate in violation of the FTC’s consent decree to guard this knowledge as a part of a settlement with the fee in 2011. 

“We urge the Fee to vigorously oversee its consent decree with Twitter and to deliver enforcement actions towards any breaches or enterprise practices which are unfair or misleading, together with bringing civil penalties and imposing legal responsibility on particular person Twitter executives the place applicable,” the senators mentioned. 

Among the many seven senators who signed the letter are Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey. 

Twitter violated the consent decree in Might when the FTC discovered the corporate used safety knowledge like telephone numbers and e mail addresses to focus on promoting at customers. This led to a $150 million settlement paid by Twitter.

Musk appeared to finish the day poking enjoyable at his earlier warning that Twitter could go bankrupt.

Twitter has not responded to a number of requests for remark.

Nov. 16: Musk calls for ‘hardcore’ work tradition. Dorsey’s ‘nope’

Musk emailed all employees to define his imaginative and prescient for “Twitter 2.0,” which would require an “extraordinarily hardcore” tradition, with lengthy hours and excessive depth, in keeping with Pragmatic Engineer author (and former Uber engineer) Gergely Orosz. Staff should conform to this on Thursday or depart with three months of severance pay. 

Throughout testimony Wednesday over a Tesla shareholder case alleging that his wage as CEO is extreme, Musk additionally reportedly instructed the court docket that he doesn’t need to be CEO of Tesla, and that his chief government management of Twitter is a short lived association.

“I anticipate to cut back my time at Twitter and discover someone else to run Twitter over time,” he mentioned, in keeping with CNBC.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

When a follower requested Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey if he’d think about returning as CEO, Dorsey responded with a agency “nope.” There is not any indication that he acquired a suggestion to return — the follower’s question got here after Dorsey engaged in dialog about Twitter’s future and expressed confidence that the location would survive. His earlier tenure as CEO resulted in Might 2021, and he left its board of administrators in Might 2022. 

Nov. 15: Employees fired for talking about Musk on Slack

Staff who criticized Elon Musk in Twitter’s Slack channels have been fired in a single day through e mail, Platformer’s Casey Newton mentioned in a tweet. They have been apparently instructed their “latest habits has violated firm coverage.” It is unclear how many individuals have been affected.

Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 14: Musk desires higher Twitter video help

Talking through video hyperlink, Musk instructed enterprise leaders through the G20 summit in Bali that he desires to see Twitter help extra longer-form video to herald extra content material creators. He additionally famous that he is been working “on the absolute most quantity … from morning til evening, seven days every week” for the reason that acquisition.

Nov. 13: SpaceX reportedly buys main Twitter advert bundle

SpaceX, Musk’s aerospace firm, ordered a Twitter “takeover” promoting bundle for its satellite tv for pc web service Starlink, CNBC reported. It will seemingly promote the service on folks’s Twitter timelines in Spain and Australia and might value greater than $250,000. It comes after some advertisers paused campaigns because of the upheaval at Twitter. 

SpaceX did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 12: Hundreds of contract staff seemingly terminated

Twitter lower hundreds of contract staff, in keeping with Platformer’s Casey Newton, Axios and CNBC, with Newton reporting that round 4,400 of Twitter’s roughly 5,500 contractors have been affected. Most did not get any discover and discovered as a result of they misplaced entry to the corporate’s e mail and inside communications methods, Newton reported.

The corporate did not reply to a request for remark.

Nov. 11: Twitter Blue subscription possibility vanishes

The choice to enroll in the $8 a month subscription service Twitter Blue is not accessible on Twitter’s iOS app, as earlier reported by The Verge. The shift comes days after the service launched for Apple gadgets and previous to its Android launch. Making an attempt to subscribe on desktop directs you to the iOS app.

CNET can verify that this manifests in two distinct methods: the choice to subscribe has vanished from the sidebar, and tapping the hyperlink offers you an error message. 

“Thanks on your curiosity!” it reads. “Twitter Blue shall be accessible in your nation sooner or later. Please verify again later.”

It is unclear why the corporate paused signups for the service, however a lot of customers reportedly purchased verification to impersonate manufacturers and celebrities. An inside word posted on Slack mentioned it stopped folks from subscribing “to assist tackle impersonation points,” in keeping with Platformer’s Zoë Schiffer.

Twitter did not reply to CNET’s request for remark.

Nov. 10: Musk bans distant work and warns of chapter, lawyer says he is risking billions in FTC fines

Musk despatched his first emails to staff on Nov. 9, warning that “the financial image forward is dire.” He banned distant work except he personally permitted it, in keeping with Bloomberg, whereas The New York Occasions reported that he instructed employees “absolutely the high precedence is discovering and suspending any verified bots/trolls/spam.”

An lawyer on Twitter’s privateness staff posted a message within the firm’s Slack warning that Musk’s concentrate on monetizing its customers is making him take harmful steps, The Verge reported. It is apparently at specific danger of incurring billions in fines from the Federal Commerce Fee within the wake of a Might settlement relating to the usage of private data to focus on advertisements.

Twitter’s chief privateness officer, Damien Kieran; Chief Info Safety Officer Lea Kissner; and Chief Compliance Officer Marianne Fogarty all resigned, The Verge famous. Kissner’s departure confirmed her departure in a tweet.

Musk additionally reportedly instructed staff chapter was a chance, Bloomberg reported, citing an individual aware of the matter. Two extra Twitter executives — Yoel Roth, the corporate’s head of belief and security, and Robin Wheeler, who led advertising and gross sales at Twitter — additionally resigned, in keeping with the report. Wheeler then determined to remain on the firm after Musk persuaded her to take action, Bloomberg reported. Roth, Wheeler and Musk’s lawyer Alex Spiro did not reply to a request for remark. 

Nov. 9: Musk tries to reassure advertisers amid confusion about verify marks

Twitter’s rollout of a new verification system is messy. Twitter began including grey verify marks and an “official” label to high-profile Twitter accounts however then scrapped a number of the modifications hours later.

In an hour-long dwell audio chat on Twitter later within the day, Musk mentioned the brand new labels are an “aesthetic nightmare when trying on the Twitter feed” and “one other approach of making a two-class system.” 

Esther Crawford, who oversees early-stage merchandise at Twitter, tweeted that the corporate would nonetheless be rolling out the “official” label however to authorities and business entities first. Twitter additionally began permitting folks so as to add blue verify marks to their profiles in the event that they pay $8 a month for a Twitter Blue subscription. Scammers are already utilizing the brand new system to create faux accounts. Twitter mentioned it could droop accounts engaged in misleading techniques and impersonation.

Within the audio chat, Musk mentioned Twitter’s plans for a content material moderation council and selections by corporations to quickly pause their promoting campaigns on Twitter.

“I do not assume having hate speech subsequent to an advert is nice. Clearly,” he mentioned. Musk additionally mentioned he thinks it can take Twitter a few months to create a content material moderation council. 

He signaled, although, that he is not planning to decelerate relating to altering Twitter. 

“The speed of evolution of Twitter shall be an immense step change in comparison with what it has been previously,” he mentioned. “You recognize, if nothing else, I’m a technologist and I could make expertise go quick.”

Nov. 6: Paid verify marks could also be pushed again, Musk cracks down on impersonation

Paid verification reportedly delayed till after election

Twitter is suspending the rollout of verification badges related to an $8 month-to-month subscription service till after the midterm elections, in keeping with The New York Occasions.

Impersonators get the boot

Musk warned that any Twitter account partaking in impersonation with out clearly specifying that it is parody would get hit with a everlasting ban. In response, some customers modified their names to “Elon Musk,” which led to their suspension.

Nov. 5: Paying for verify marks, listening to from Dorsey

Pay-for-verification plan reveals up in iOS replace

Model notes for the newest iteration of Twitter’s app for the Apple iPhone confirmed up within the App Retailer, with a What’s New part that pointed to the verification function. The notes inform customers that “beginning at present” if you happen to “join now” for an $8-a-month Twitter Blue subscription, “your account will get a blue verify mark, similar to the celebrities, corporations, and politicians you already observe.” It seems, although, that this system hasn’t really kicked in but. Learn extra right here.

Dorsey weighs in

With information stories saying Twitter had laid off about half its employees, co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey took to the service to supply phrases of encouragement and to position blame on himself.

“I personal the accountability for why everyone seems to be on this scenario: I grew the corporate dimension too rapidly. I apologize for that,” Dorsey tweeted. He additionally referred to as Twitter staffers previous and current “resilient” and mentioned, “I’m grateful for, and love, everybody who has ever labored on Twitter. I do not anticipate that to be mutual on this second.”

In April, Dorsey expressed his help of Musk taking on the corporate, however he additionally mentioned that in precept, he thought nobody ought to personal or run Twitter and that it ought to as a substitute be “a public good.”

Nov. 4: Musk says Twitter has had ‘large drop’ in income

Since Musk’s takeover, a number of main advertisers, similar to Tesla rival Normal Motors, meals firm Normal Mills and pharmaceutical company Pfizer, have quickly paused their advert campaigns on Twitter. Musk tweeted that Twitter has had a “large drop” in income, which he blamed on activist teams pressuring advertisers. Musk did not say in his tweet how a lot Twitter’s income has fallen, nor did he determine the activists. Within the tweet, Musk additionally mentioned Twitter hasn’t modified its content material moderation insurance policies. 

Musk additionally made an look on the Baron Funding Convention, the place he famous that Twitter grappled with income challenges earlier than the acquisition and that he tried to get out of the deal.

His remarks got here after Twitter began shedding staff. Musk later tweeted that there was “no selection when the corporate is shedding over $4M/day.” With out specifying how many individuals have been laid off or what proportion of the workforce, Musk added they have been “supplied 3 months of severance.” Reportedly, about half of Twitter’s 7,500-person work pressure was laid off.

Civil rights teams that met with Musk spoke out concerning the layoffs.

“For starters, there is no method to hold election integrity in place if you’re chopping capability to do the monitoring in #TwitterLayoffs,” tweeted Rashad Robinson, president of racial justice group Shade of Change. The group is a part of #StopToxicTwitter, a coalition of greater than 60 organizations which are urging main advertisers to pause spending and put money into content material moderation. Companions listed on the coalition’s web site embody the Anti-Defamation League, the NAACP, Public Citizen, and the Union of Involved Scientists.

The Volkswagen Group and others reportedly paused advert spending due to issues that advertisements may seem alongside problematic content material on the platform.

Nov. 3: Musk appears to be like for tactics to chop prices, lawsuit filed

Musk desires to chop prices and make Twitter much less depending on promoting. 

Reuters, citing two sources aware of the matter and an inside Slack message, reported that Musk directed Twitter’s staff to seek out greater than $1 billion in infrastructure value financial savings.

The corporate is taking a look at different methods to earn money exterior of promoting, together with “paywalled” movies and paid direct messages, The New York Occasions reported, citing two folks with information of the matter and inside paperwork.

Musk is already making modifications to Twitter’s work tradition. Bloomberg reported that Musk has eliminated “days of relaxation” from Twitter’s worker calendars and plans to cancel the corporate’s distant work coverage. Twitter did not reply to a request for remark.

Twitter reportedly instructed staff in an e mail that layoffs would occur. A lawsuit searching for class motion standing, accused Twitter of violating the federal Employee Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, which requires massive corporations to offer at the very least 60 days of advance discover earlier than mass layoffs, as beforehand reported by Bloomberg.

Nov. 2: Musk reportedly plans to chop half of Twitter’s workforce

Musk plans to chop about 3,700 jobs at Twitter, or half of the social media firm’s workforce, Bloomberg reported. Affected staffers are to be told of their destiny by Nov. 4, sources instructed the information outlet.

Musk additionally plans to reverse the corporate’s current work-from-anywhere coverage, requiring remaining staff to report back to an workplace, the unidentified sources mentioned.

In a single state of affairs for lowering Twitter’s workforce being thought of, laid off employees shall be supplied 60 days’ value of severance pay. Twitter customers have been bracing for layoffs since Musk introduced his bid for Twitter in April. One report indicated that Musk deliberate to chop 75% of jobs at Twitter.

Nov. 1: Musk suggests charging for verification

In a collection of tweets, Musk floated the concept Twitter cost $8 per 30 days for a verified blue verify mark as a part of its subscription plan. The corporate’s subscription service, referred to as Twitter Blue, presently prices $5 per 30 days however does not embody verification as a perk.

Twitter presently does not cost to confirm accounts with a blue verify mark, and the badge is meant to be given out to accounts that the corporate determines are “notable, genuine and lively.” The blue verify mark is supposed to assist customers decide if an account of a celeb, journalist or different public determine is faux or not.

Musk tweeted that the value can be adjusted by nation and that the subscription would come with “precedence in replies, mentions & search, which is crucial to defeat spam/rip-off,” in addition to the “skill to put up lengthy video & audio.” He additionally mentioned customers would see “half as many advertisements.” 

Earlier within the day, The Wall Avenue Journal reported that Twitter Blue subscribers will lose entry to ad-free articles from publishers like Vox, the Los Angeles Occasions and Insider. There have been varied stories of various costs for a Twitter Blue subscription, with the corporate additionally reportedly having thought of rising the subscription worth to $20 a month.

It is unclear from Musk’s tweets if verified customers must pay for a subscription or lose their blue verify mark. Musk tweeted there can be “a secondary tag” for public figures, just like the one now used for politicians.

The corporate’s chief buyer officer, Sarah Personette, additionally revealed in a tweet that she resigned.

In the meantime, Twitter mentioned it has eliminated 1,500 accounts since Oct. 29 for posting hateful content material.

Oct. 31: Official CEO, board dissolved, layoff plans, no Trump choice but, content material moderation restricted

Days after naming himself “Chief Twit” on his Twitter profile, Musk confirmed he is the corporate’s CEO by way of a securities submitting. Different modifications to Twitter’s management are additionally underway. A associated securities submitting reveals Twitter’s board of administrators was dissolved the day Musk took over and recognized Musk because the “sole director” of the corporate. 

He additionally reportedly plans to put off 25% of Twitter’s workforce, The Washington Submit reported, citing nameless sources. 

Musk, who has beforehand mentioned he would reverse former US President Donald Trump’s everlasting ban from Twitter, continues to be getting questions on whether or not he’ll observe by way of on that. Twitter booted Trump from its platform in 2021 following the lethal US Capitol Hill riot due to issues that his remarks may incite extra violence. 

“If I had a greenback for each time somebody requested me if Trump is coming again on this platform, Twitter can be minting cash!” Musk tweeted. 

Twitter additionally restricted some Belief and Security worker entry to inside instruments, Bloomberg reported, curbing their skill to average content material and tackle misinformation forward of subsequent week’s US elections. They’ll apparently nonetheless edit or take away posts that would end in real-world hurt.

“That is precisely what we (or any firm) ought to be doing within the midst of a company transition to cut back alternatives for insider danger. We’re nonetheless imposing our guidelines at scale,” Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of security and integrity, tweeted in response to Bloomberg’s story.

Oct. 30: Musk toys with verify mark modifications and Vine revival, tweets misinformation

Musk has been busy suggesting modifications to Twitter. He tweeted a ballot about whether or not Twitter ought to deliver again Vine, a short-form video app that Twitter shut down in 2017. 

Twitter additionally reportedly plans to cost $20 per 30 days for its Twitter Blue subscription service, and verified customers would lose their blue verify mark if they do not accomplish that in 90 days, The Verge reported, citing nameless sources. Platformer’s Casey Newton reported that Twitter is considering charging $5 a month to verified customers in the event that they need to hold their blue verify marks.

Musk additionally tweeted after which deleted a hyperlink to an article with a baseless conspiracy principle about final week’s assault on Paul Pelosi, the husband of US Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, in San Francisco. The article got here from a web site referred to as the Santa Monica Observer. Reality-checking web site Media Bias/Reality Examine famous the outlet publishes right-wing misinformation. 

Oct. 29: Twitter battles a surge in racist slurs

Twitter is making an attempt to fight nameless accounts that began to tweet racist slurs hours after Musk took over Twitter. 

Twitter head of security and integrity Yoel Roth tweeted that the corporate has “seen a small variety of accounts put up a ton of tweets that embody slurs and different derogatory phrases.” He added that “greater than 50,000 tweets repeatedly utilizing a selected slur got here from simply 300 accounts.”

“Backside line up entrance: Twitter’s insurance policies have not modified. Hateful conduct has no place right here. And we’re taking steps to place a cease to an organized effort to make folks assume we’ve,” he tweeted.

Oct. 28: Twitter to type content material moderation council

Advocacy teams have raised issues that Musk’s management over Twitter would permit extra hate speech and misinformation to floor on the platform. Musk has vowed publicly he does not need Twitter to turn out to be a “free-for-all hellscape” however has additionally mentioned that he is “towards censorship that goes far past the legislation.”

Musk mentioned the corporate would type a content material moderation council with “broadly various viewpoints.” The corporate will not make any main content material selections or account reinstatements earlier than the council convenes, he tweeted.

A securities submitting on Oct. 28 additionally famous that Twitter’s inventory is being delisted on the New York Inventory Alternate. Twitter, a publicly traded firm, grew to become a non-public one. 

Oct. 27: Musk takes over Twitter, fires executives

Musk grew to become Twitter’s new proprietor and reportedly fired key executives on the firm, together with Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal and Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s head of authorized coverage, belief and security.

Earlier within the day, Musk tweeted a letter to advertisers. The billionaire, who as soon as tweeted that he hated promoting, now posted that “promoting, when executed proper, can delight, entertain and inform you.” 

Musk met with staff all through the week, carried a sink into Twitter’s headquarters as a photograph op and altered his profile to “Chief Twit” earlier than information broke that the deal had been accomplished.

CNET employees contributed to this report.