It appears that Twitter quietly changed its rules hours before being used to block an account using publicly available information to track Elon Musk’s private jet.
The @ElonJet account, which has been using open source flight tracking systems for years to track the controversial billionaire’s plane, was suspended from the social media platform that Musk owns on Wednesday, while links to the tracker’s Instagram account can’t be shared on Twitter either.
Several other accounts tracking other billionaires’ planes have also been banned from the platform.
Musk had previously slandered the account, claiming it was a threat to his public safety, but made it clear he would not block it due to his “commitment to free speech.”
In a post-suspension tweet, he stated, “Posting someone else’s real-time location is against doxing policy, but delaying posting a location is fine.”
But the policy Musk cited as justification for blocking the account was apparently updated by his team on the same day that his criticism was blocked.
The wording was slipped into Twitter’s “Privacy and Media Policy”. Prevent users from sharing the “live location” of others.
It states: “Regardless of intent, if information is not shared during a crisis, in support of humanitarian efforts, or in connection with public participation, we will remove any tweet or account reporting a person’s real location.”
He adds that the prohibited information includes: “Real-time location information, including information posted directly to Twitter or links to third-party route URLs, actual physical location, or other identifying information that can identify a person’s location.” case, the information is in the public domain”.
Another paragraph, which previously stated that users may “distribute information that is publicly available elsewhere in a non-offensive manner”, was changed to add: “Exclude real-time location information.”
All changes appear to have been made on Wednesday – with archived version of the rule set revised from tuesday I do not report real-time location information. The rules have not been revised since April 2022.
The decision is the latest denial from Musk, who stated a month ago: “My commitment to freedom of expression extends even to not suspending an account tracking my plane, even if it poses a direct threat to personal safety.”
The billionaire, who has repeatedly said he practices “freedom of speech” for the social media platform, has backed out of other commitments he made when he took control of Twitter in recent weeks.
He initially argued that the suspension would not be lifted from any high-profile account until a new advisory body was established, before deciding to lift the suspension from Donald Trump and a number of right-wing commentators based on a Twitter poll.
Twitter no longer has a communications department. Tesla’s press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Musk’s behalf.
Source: I News
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