In recent weeks, r/law, a popular subreddit focused on legal matters, has made the decision to ban all links to Ex-Twitter on their forum.
The motivation behind this move seems to be the safety concerns that have arisen around Ex-Twitter due to its handling of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) since Elon Musk took control of the platform. Musk’s decision to reenable accounts that had previously been suspended for posting CSAM, coupled with allowing essential CSAM scanning systems to fail, has drawn widespread concern. The situation has been exacerbated by the loss of most of the team responsible for combating CSAM on the site, whether through layoffs or departures.
r/law’s ban isn’t restricted to direct links to Twitter, but extends also to news stories that embed or link to Twitter content. Journalists are being urged to cease linking to Twitter in any of their content.
The fears associated with Ex-Twitter, or ‘X,’ as Musk now refers to it, are not just restricted to the subreddit. Last year, Techdirt decided to ban Twitter embeds. While banning any news article that references a tweet might be perceived as extreme, it reveals the escalating concern over the potential liabilities arising from the manner in which Ex-Twitter is being operated.
The decision appears to have the support of the r/law community rather than their outrage, which is a shocking reminder of the extensive damage done to the reputation of Ex-Twitter by Musk’s actions.
Musk’s actions also seem to be impacting the platform’s advertising relationships, with some advertisers choosing to withdraw their support due to the rising risks associated with its use.