Tue 26 April 2022:

The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ/EFJ) criticized Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter on Tuesday, warning that the agreement threatens the social network’s users’ freedom of speech and jeopardizes the safety of journalists on the platform.

“This space (Twitter) must be duly moderated, while respecting freedom of speech. It is a fine balance that any Twitter owner must pay attention to. We are concerned that Elon Musk’s plans for Twitter are going the wrong direction by exacerbating opportunities to attack journalists and threatening the anonymity of users,” Anthony Bellanger, the general secretary of the IFJ, said in a statement.

Musk has never hesitated to use Twitter to distort information, affect stock prices, and control media coverage of his own company, according to EFJ General Secretary Ricardo Guitterez.

Musk purchased 9.2 percent of Twitter shares on the open market for roughly $3 billion in early April before making a bid for the company’s remaining shares. On Monday, he signed an agreement to purchase the social media giant for $54.20 a share in a $44 billion deal.

‘Worst critics’

Elon Musk has urged his “worst critics” to stay on Twitter as the platform’s board of directors prepares to accept the Tesla founder’s $43 billion cash bid.

Musk took to Twitter amid reports he could become its owner as early as Monday, and wrote, “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means.”

I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 25, 2022

The entrepreneur has made free speech a core issue in his attempted takeover of Twitter, prompting detractors to speculate that he could reinstate banned right-wing figures like Donald Trump and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

In early April, Musk bought a 9.2% of Twitter shares from the open market for nearly $3 billion, before making a bid for its remaining shares. On Monday, he reached a deal to buy the social media giant for $54.20 per share in a transaction valued at approximately $44 billion.

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