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☆ Here are six important questions as Elon Musk faces an ever-deepening crisis over his unhinged behavior
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Elon Musk has an ever-deepening crisis on his hands. Days after the billionaire conspiracy theorist endorsed an antisemitic post on his hate-drenched platform, X, there is mounting pressure for others to take additional action against the unhinged businessman. Here are six questions about the calamity besieging X:What is Musk doing with his lawsuit against Media Matters? Earlier this year, the NFL expressed concern when a Media Matters report found its ads were appearing next to accounts belonging to racists. But it has not said a word since, even as X continued placing ads for NFL teams onto VDARE’s account.

Persons: CNN — Elon Musk, It’s, Musk, Ted Boutrous, X, ” Angelo Carusone, Will Linda Yaccarino, Lou Paskalis, Clare Duffy, Elon Musk, ” Paskalis, she’s, ‘, ” Yaccarino, Axios, TechCrunch, I’m, newsrooms, Casey Newton, ” Newton Organizations: CNN, Media Matters, Media, Hamas, AJL Advisory, NFL, The Washington Post, Financial Times, New York Times Locations: Israel

☆ Ad execs encourage X CEO Linda Yaccarino to quit after Elon Musk’s antisemitic embrace
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Clare Duffy | Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Hundreds of major brands paused their ad spend after Musk’s acquisition over concerns about content moderation and the platform’s future under the eccentric billionaire. But at least a half dozen major advertisers, including media giants Disney, Paramount and NBCUniversal, halted their spending on X on Friday. IBM also suspended advertising on the platform after its ad appeared alongside pro-Nazi content. The decisions to drop the platform followed criticism of Musk over his public embrace of an antisemitic conspiracy theory favored by White supremacists. “No critic will ever deter us from our mission to protect free speech,” Yaccarino said in the Sunday letter.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, Elon, Lou Paskalis, “, ” Paskalis, ”, Musk, White supremacists, Elon Musk, she’s, ‘, ” Yaccarino, I’m, Yaccarino, it’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, X, AJL, CNN, Disney, Paramount, IBM, Media, monetization Locations: New York

☆ Media Matters: Elon Musk’s X sues media watchdog over report on pro-Nazi content on the social media site
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The lawsuit filed Monday accuses Media Matters of distorting how likely it is for ads to appear beside extremist content on X, alleging that the group’s testing methodology was not representative of how real users experience the site. “Media Matters designed both these images and its resulting media strategy to drive advertisers from the platform and destroy X Corp.”The lawsuit simultaneously names Media Matters and Eric Hananoki, its senior investigative reporter, as defendants. It calls for a judicial order forcing Media Matters to remove its analysis from its website and accuses Media Matters of interfering with X’s contracts with advertisers, of disrupting their economic relationships and of unlawfully disparaging X. In a statement Monday evening, Media Matters President Angelo Carusone vowed to defend the group against the suit. “Media Matters stands behind its reporting and looks forward to winning in court.”On Monday evening, X CEO Linda Yaccarino chimed in defending the social media site.

Persons: Elon Musk, Eric Hananoki, Angelo Carusone, ” Carusone, ”, Linda Yaccarino chimed, I’m, ” Yaccarino, “, Ken Paxton, Musk, ” Musk, opportunistically, that’s, Steve Vladeck, Joan Donovan, ” Ken White, “ X, ” White, White, Mark Pittman, Donald Trump, Pittman, Joe Biden’s, Jon Passantino, Dan Berman Organizations: CNN, Media, “ Media, X Corp, Court, Northern, Northern District of, “, Whites, Disney, Paramount, Warner Bros, Northern District of Texas, University of Texas, Boston University, YouTube, of Columbia Locations: Northern District, Northern District of Texas, Texas, Los Angeles, California

☆ IBM to pause ad spending on X after its ads ran on pro-Nazi accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-16 | by ( Liam Reilly | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —IBM on Thursday announced it had suspended advertising on Elon Musk’s X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after an ad for the computing giant appeared alongside pro-Nazi content. The accounts remained active on X Thursday afternoon, hours after the report was published. No brands had specifically targeted the pro-Nazi accounts identified in Thursday’s report for their advertisements, nor did the company intentionally place their ads there, the spokesperson said. Full stop.”IBM is not the first company to part ways with X after its ad appeared next to hateful content. Musk’s X has also come under fire for reinstating the accounts of users who were previously banned on the social media platform, including far-right and neo-Nazi figures.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, ”, NBCUniversal’s Bravo, Adolf Hitler, Linda Yaccarino, NCTA, Yaccarino, Musk, Jonathan Greenblatt, ” Greenblatt, Musk’s, –, Brian Fung Organizations: New, New York CNN, IBM, Elon, Media, IBM —, Apple, Oracle, Comcast, NBCU, CNN, and Television Association, Gilead Sciences, Adobe, Adobe , New York University Langone Hospital, University of Maryland’s, Whites, Defamation League Locations: New York, Nazi, Adobe ,, America

☆ Elon Musk’s Twitter takeover, the platform and its cultural impact have fundamentally changed
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Brian Fung | Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

Here’s a (non-exhaustive) account of how Musk has fundamentally changed Twitter since he made one of the most consequential acquisitions of the social media age. Many of Musk’s content and product decisions have also led to what civil society groups have reported as a troubling spread of hateful speech on the platform. He recommended that X users monitor the Israel-Hamas conflict by following an account known for spreading disinformation, before later deleting his post. And, in an attempt to prove that former Twitter executives deliberately discriminated against conservatives on the platform, Musk provided a handpicked group of journalists with selective access to company records. It is perhaps Musk’s all-consuming presence that has most undermined what users used to love about Twitter.

Persons: New York CNN — It’s, Elon Musk, Linda Yaccarino —, Yaccarino, ” Yaccarino, —, it’s, Here’s, Musk, he’s, Donald Trump, LeBron James, James, ”, X, General Mills, ” Weeks, “ Elon, what’s, “, Paul Pelosi, Dilbert, Scott Adams, George Soros, Joe Biden’s, Ron DeSantis ’, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Tucker Carlson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Benjamin Netanyahu, Hunter Biden Organizations: New, New York CNN, Elon, Twitter, US Federal Trade Commission, Securities, Exchange Commission, EU, Premium, Nintendo, NPR, PBS, Volkswagen, —, Center, Defamation League, Wall Street, Florida Republican Gov, Fox, New York, Trump Locations: New York, Israel, United States, breakeven, New

☆ Elon Musk’s X says it has removed ‘hundreds’ of Hamas-affiliated accounts
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

London CNN —X says it has removed “hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts” and taken down thousands of posts since the attack on Israel by the Palestinian militant group. “X is… addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis,” she added. The platform had “assembled a leadership group to assess the situation” shortly after news broke about the attack, Yaccarino said. It had also responded to more than 80 “take down requests” from EU authorities to remove content. “Community Notes” — which allow X users to fact check false posts — are visible on “thousands of posts, generating millions of impressions,” she wrote.

Persons: London CNN —, Linda Yaccarino, Thierry Breton, ” Yaccarino, “, Yaccarino, X, ”, Breton Organizations: London CNN, Twitter, European Union, Digital Services Locations: Israel, Palestinian

LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk's social media platform X has removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and taken down or labeled thousands of pieces of content since the militant group's attack on Israel, according to the CEO of the company formerly known as Twitter. Linda Yaccarino on Thursday outlined efforts by X to get a handle on illegal content flourishing on the platform. Plus, X's workforce — including its content moderation team — has been gutted. Political Cartoons View All 1207 ImagesThose changes are running up against the EU's Digital Services Act, which took effect in August. It forces social media companies to step up policing of their platforms for illegal content, such as terrorist material or illegal hate speech, under threat of hefty fines.

Persons: — Elon, Linda Yaccarino, X, ” Yaccarino, Thierry Breton, —, Yaccarino, Musk Organizations: Twitter, European Union, EU's Digital Services, YouTube, Facebook Locations: Israel, EU

New York CNN —At least two brands have said they will suspend advertising on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, after their ads and those of other companies were run on an account promoting fascism. Spokespeople for NCTA and pharmaceutical company Gilead said that they immediately paused their ad spending on X after CNN flagged their ads on the pro-Nazi account. Hours after the Media Matters report was published Wednesday morning and CNN observed additional brands’ ads running on the account, the account appeared to be suspended. “Media Matters and other observers have documented how X has remained a dangerous cesspool of content, especially for advertisers,” Wednesday’s report states. Media Matters says it has also documented instances of brands’ ads being placed next to content from Holocaust denial and white nationalist accounts.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, Hitler, Gilead, ”, Brian Dietz, ” “, ” Dietz, X, Jason Yellin, NYU Langone, “, Elon, Musk, Yaccarino —, X —, ” Yaccarino, Yaccarino Organizations: New, New York CNN, Media, America, Nazi Party, Adobe, Gilead Sciences, University of Maryland’s, New York University Langone Hospital, Television Association, CNN, ” “ Brand, University of, Maryland Football, NYU, Twitter, CNBC, “ Media, X Locations: New York, Elon Musk’s

☆ X is ‘close to breakeven’ says CEO Linda Yaccarino
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —X CEO Linda Yaccarino, leader of the platform formerly known as Twitter, said the company is keeping an eye on new competitor Threads, despite the sharply slowing growth of the rival app from Meta. Musk, who is now the company’s chief technology officer, has also been preparing for a cage fight with Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Yaccarino joined the company after months of turmoil caused by Musk’s takeover, including mass layoffs, controversial policy decisions and various legal battles. Yaccarino, a former marketing executive with NBCUniversal, was brought on to Twitter in part to help revive its advertising business. And she said on Thursday that the company is “close to breakeven.”“Coca Cola, Visa, State Farm is a huge partner, they’re coming back — the last bunch of weeks, continued revenue growth,” Yaccarino said.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, it’s, ” Yaccarino, they’ll, ”, Yaccarino, we’re, Staving, Elon Musk, WeChat, Mark Zuckerberg, “, Musk, they’re Organizations: New, New York CNN, Twitter, Meta, CNBC, Fidelity, Visa Locations: New York, breakeven, Coca Cola

☆ Linda Yaccarino was pressed about the chaos on Elon Musk’s X. Her answers were detached from reality
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-10 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

During a lengthy sit-down interview with CNBC’s Sara Eisen, Yaccarino described the one-time bird platform as if everything were not only swell, but in a better position since Musk’s chaotic takeover and reign. But perhaps an even more preposterous claim from Yaccarino came when Eisen pressed her on brand safety and hate speech appearing on the platform since Musk’s takeover. Yaccarino celebrated Coca-Cola and State Farm marketing their products on Twitter/X, as she underscored the platform’s commitment to brand safety. Under Musk’s watch, the platform has welcomed back white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, anti-vaccine activists, and various other extremists with open arms. Alas, it is no wonder that conspiracy theories and hate speech are flourishing on the platform.

Persons: CNN — Linda Yaccarino, CNBC’s Sara Eisen, Yaccarino, Yaccarino fantastically, Eisen, ”, “, Musk, Eisner Organizations: CNN, Elon Musk, Twitter, Defamation League, Center, Strategic, Secure Community Network, State Farm, Media Locations: Yaccarino

☆ Twitter’s rebrand is the next stage in Elon Musk’s vision for the company. But does anyone want it?
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-25 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

When Musk bought Twitter late last year, he laid out a vision for an “everything” app called X, where users could communicate, shop, consume entertainment and more. Musk — who bought Twitter with a company called X Corp. — tweeted on Sunday that X.com now redirects to Twitter. Musk even told followers that tweets should instead be called “x’s.”On Sunday, CEO Linda Yaccarino seemed to confirm Musk’s vision for the company. Elon Musk has officially rebranded Twitter as "X," as he seeks to turn the platform into an "everything" app. And until Musk rolls out significant changes to the platform, observers of the company say ditching Twitter’s well-known brand is a risky move.

Persons: New York CNN — Elon Musk’s, Musk, — Musk, “, —, It’s, ” Mike Proulx, Forrester, Proulx, ”, Linda Yaccarino, ” Yaccarino, Elon Musk, Jonathan Brady, Walter Isaacson, texted Isaacson, ” “, ” Musk, he’s, WeChat, Deloitte, Instagram, Joshua White Organizations: New, New York CNN, Twitter, PayPal, Musk —, X Corp, SpaceX, Facebook, Vanderbilt University Locations: New York, China, Arizona, Michigan

☆ With Twitter in chaos, Mark Zuckerberg looks to pounce
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —Mark Zuckerberg has tried for years to take on Twitter. Now he may finally have his best chance to deliver a knockout blow to the social network at a turbulent moment. On Friday, Twitter made tweets inaccessible to anyone who wasn’t logged in, reducing the reach of the platform’s content. For years, Twitter has been the go-to social platform for real-time news and commentary. The more Twitter users head for the exits, the more its alternatives benefit from network effects.

Persons: Washington CNN — Mark Zuckerberg, it’s, Jack Dorsey, Meta, —, — Twitter —, Elon, Musk, Zuckerberg, Twitter, Twitter’s, Linda Yaccarino, ” Yaccarino, Eugen Rochko Organizations: Washington CNN, Twitter, Meta, Facebook, — Twitter

☆ Former NBCU exec Linda Yaccarino prepares to take over Twitter CEO role from Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN —Linda Yaccarino, a former NBCUniversal marketing executive, is preparing to take over the CEO role at Twitter from Elon Musk, weeks after the billionaire announced hiring her for the top spot at the social media company. The New York Times and The Information reported that Yaccarino is expected to officially start as Twitter CEO on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. Musk is likely betting on Yaccarino’s ad industry chops to restore Twitter’s flagging advertising business. Even without the CEO title, Musk will retain significant control over Twitter as its owner. Following the DeSantis event, Yaccarino tweeted: “We just heard a rare and unscripted conversation, on a range of important topics, with a Presidential candidate — all launched on Twitter.

Persons: Linda Yaccarino, Elon Musk, Yaccarino, Twitter, Joe Benarroch, Benarroch, “ Let’s, ” Yaccarino, she’d, Musk, Twitter’s, Ella Irwin, “, ”, Yaccarino’s, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Ron DeSantis, — Organizations: New, New York CNN, Twitter, Elon, The New York Times, New York Times, CNN, CNBC, Democratic, Florida Locations: New York, York, “ Bay, San Francisco

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