DIGITAL LIFE

Twitter is now ours

Hours after announcing the purchase of Twitter, billionaire Elon Musk took control of the company and fired the directors. After months of back-and-forth, the richest man on the planet fired the company's chief executive, Parag Agrawal, and two other top executives, according to the Washington Post.

On the morning of this Thursday (27/10), Musk confirmed the purchase of the social network and shared the motivation for the investment of US$ 44 billion. "The reason I acquired Twitter is because I think it's important for the future of civilization to have a common digital plaza where a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy way, without resorting to violence," tweeted the new owner of Twitter. social network.

“That's why I bought Twitter. I didn't do it because it would be easy, I didn't do it to make more money. I did it to try to help humanity, recognizing that failure to pursue this goal, despite our best efforts, is a very real possibility.”

Musk had until Friday to close the purchase of the social network, otherwise a trial would be held in November. The deal had been dragging on since, at the end of April, the businessman launched a takeover offer for $44 billion, which Twitter reluctantly accepted.

Musk tried to unilaterally reverse the deal in early July, accusing the company of having lied to him, but the social network's board of directors took the matter to court, until signs that the operation was finally under way multiplied throughout the week.

Future of civilization...Musk tried to reassure advertisers by declaring on Thursday that he wants to allow the expression of all opinions on the social network without making it a "hellish" platform where everything will be allowed.

"It is important for the future of civilization to have an online public space in which a wide variety of opinions can be debated in a healthy way, without resorting to violence", highlighted the businessman in a message aimed at the brands responsible for most of the revenue of the Twitter.

Musk told advertisers that he is not looking to "make money" from the purchase, but "trying to help humanity". "In addition to respecting the laws, our platform must be welcoming to everyone," he emphasized.

In commercial terms, Musk maintains that it is essential for the company to display ads that correspond to "the needs" of Internet users.

After the purchase, "the culture of the company could change profoundly and quickly," said Adam Badawi, a professor of law at UC Berkeley.

mundophone