Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover Raises Fears of Growing Climate Misinformation at COP27 Summit
Elon Musk has laid off thousands of employees, including sustainability chiefs Sean Boyle and Casey Junod, who left the platform last week.
Highlights
- The Tesla billionaire laid off thousands of platform workers last week
- Musk has promised to relax Twitter's content restrictions
- Weather misinformation is on the rise, he said
Climate deniers may block action after Elon Musk's inauguration and 'greenwashing' companies have free rein on Twitter as leaders push for global warming efforts at the COP27 summit, analysts have warned.
The Tesla billionaire and self-proclaimed free-speech tyrant fired thousands of employees, including sustainability chiefs Sean Boyle and Casey Junod, among those who left the platform last week.
Musk has promised to loosen Twitter's content restrictions and, after the acquisition, announced plans to create a "content moderation board" to review policies.
"It's unclear what Mr. Musk actually plans to do. But...if he removes all attempts at content regulation, we can expect an increase in misinformation, misleading advertising and greenwashing," said teacher Naomi Oreskes. In the history of science at Harvard University, he is the author of important studies on climate misinformation.
Greenwashing refers to organizations that mislead the public about their impact on the planet through token messages and gestures.
"We also see an increase in hateful comments directed at scientists and climate advocates, especially women," Oreskes said.
After the purchase, a climate journalist tweeted that he had received death threats on the platform. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Licensed Sustainable Development Practitioners
Despite the measures announced by social platforms, researchers and activists say climate misinformation is thriving, undermining belief in climate change and the actions needed to address it.
Twitter and other tech giants like Facebook and Google say they are stepping up to make false claims less visible.
But the Institute for Strategic Dialogue think tank said in a detailed study this year that messages of "denial, deception and delay" on climate action are prevalent on social media.
"We believe that climate denial should not be monetized on Twitter, and that misleading statements should not distract from important conversations about the climate crisis," said Boyle and Junod Day. wrote in a Twitter blog post on Off Earth.
The two posted messages on November 4 with the hashtag “LoveWhereYouWorked” saying they were among those who were redundantly fired after buying Musk for $44 million (roughly Rs 3,37,465 crore). They did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Scientists at risk
Beyond misinformation, some experts warn that climate scientists themselves will be at risk if regulation fails.
Yoel Roth, Twitter's head of safety and integrity, responded to the rise in hate speech and tried to play down concerns. "The basic control capabilities of the platform remain the same," he tweeted.
Musk wrote on Nov. 4 that "Twitter's strong commitment to content moderation remains unchanged."
"I fear that scientific falsehoods will find a bigger platform on Twitter under Musk's leadership," said Genevieve Guenther, founder of media advocacy group End Climate Silence.
"But I'm more concerned that the website will begin to prevent scientists and climate advocates critical of right-wing views from connecting with each other and with decision-makers in the media and government." .
Blue marks at COP?
Musk's plans include an $8 monthly fee for users to have a blue checkmark next to their name, which currently represents authentication for government officials, celebrities, journalists and others.
"To me, that opens the door to highly coordinated disinformation and manipulation," said Melissa Aronczyk, an associate professor of communications and information at Rutgers University.
"To me, that opens the door to highly coordinated disinformation and manipulation," said Melissa Aronczyk, an associate professor of communications and information at Rutgers University.
Musk said the move was aimed at reducing hate speech by making it more expensive for trolls to have multiple accounts.
Aronczyk argues that the system gives a mark of authenticity to those willing to pay for the Blue Mark to advance the program.
He pointed to the controversy surrounding Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a public relations firm that works for major fossil fuel companies, hired by host Egypt to handle public relations for the COP27 summit.
"Imagine every Hill+Knowlton staffer working for COP27 creating a network of blue checking accounts to promote business-focused initiatives at the summit. Or defuse the conflict. Or ignore the protest," Aronczyk said.
"You're basically allowing corporate greenwashing as the default communication style on climate change."
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