3 ms·

Charging $1/year for the ability to tweet and retweet should reduce spammers significantly. But don't journalists in oppressive regimes (e.g. Venezuela, China,

by nomilk 3y ago

Charging $1/year for the ability to tweet and retweet should reduce spammers significantly. But don't journalists in oppressive regimes (e.g. Venezuela, China, Russia, Myanmar, Arab Spring) use twitter to share information? They could previously share information with nothing more than an internet connection, but now they'd be required to enter payment info; what does that do for their anonymity? If the idea is to improve accountability for posted content, this $1 charge might work, but only for those who are allowed to speak, not for the sizeable portion of the world's population who aren't and whose lives will be at risk if their identities are revealed. The sad conclusion is that those journalists may simply stop posting as it's not worth the risk to their lives.

rpgbr 3y ago
somewhat free speech.
clipsy 3y ago
> But don't journalists in oppressive regimes (e.g. Venezuela, China, Russia, Myanmar, Arab Spring) use twitter to share information? They could previously share information with nothing more than an internet connection, but now they'd be required to enter payment info; what does that do for their anonymity? Considering how supportive Elon is of oppressive governments, I imagine he views this as a side benefit.
rurp 3y ago
This is a great point. There have already been scandals in the past where oppressive regimes offered Twitter employees bribes to expose the people behind certain accounts so that they could be tortured or killed. This will make that existing risk even greater. Musk's cosiness with dictatorships makes the threat even worse. I would never trust this version of Twitter with my real identity or payment information, and hope people in precarious positions know not to as well.
jryle70 3y ago
> They could previously share information with nothing more than an internet connection Do you know who else could do the same? those who spread misinformation. EU threaten to take action against Twitter if they don't take it seriously - [0] This could be a step they take to address EU. [0] - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/26/eu-warns-elon-musk-that-twitter-x-must-comply-with-fake-news-laws https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/26/eu-warns-...

by nomilk 3y ago

rpgbr 3y ago

somewhat free speech.

clipsy 3y ago

> But don't journalists in oppressive regimes (e.g. Venezuela, China, Russia, Myanmar, Arab Spring) use twitter to share information? They could previously share information with nothing more than an internet connection, but now they'd be required to enter payment info; what does that do for their anonymity? Considering how supportive Elon is of oppressive governments, I imagine he views this as a side benefit.

rurp 3y ago

This is a great point. There have already been scandals in the past where oppressive regimes offered Twitter employees bribes to expose the people behind certain accounts so that they could be tortured or killed. This will make that existing risk even greater. Musk's cosiness with dictatorships makes the threat even worse. I would never trust this version of Twitter with my real identity or payment information, and hope people in precarious positions know not to as well.

jryle70 3y ago

> They could previously share information with nothing more than an internet connection Do you know who else could do the same? those who spread misinformation. EU threaten to take action against Twitter if they don't take it seriously - [0] This could be a step they take to address EU. [0] - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/26/eu-warns-elon-musk-that-twitter-x-must-comply-with-fake-news-laws https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/26/eu-warns-...