--- title: "Twitter Suddenly Suspends Journalists Critical of Elon Musk" description: "Elon Musk's X-formerly-Twitter has suspended the accounts of several journalists and leftist pundits without giving any explanation." date: "2024-01-09" modified: "2024-01-09" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/twitter-suspends-journalists-critical-elon-musk" categories: - "Elon Musk" - "Future Society" - "The Industrialists" tags: - "elon musk" - "the digest" - "twitter" --- # Twitter Suddenly Suspends Journalists Critical of Elon Musk ![Elon Musk's X-formerly-Twitter has suspended the accounts of several journalists and leftist pundits without giving any explanation.]() *\Image: Futurism\* ## The Purge So much for [free speech](). Elon Musk's X-formerly-Twitter has suspended the accounts of several journalists and leftist pundits without giving any explanation whatsoever. As [*Motherboard* reports](), *The Intercept*'s Ken Klippenstein, Alan MacLeod of *MintPress News*, *Texas Observer* journalist Steven Monacelli, podcaster Rob Rousseau, and the account for the left-leaning podcast TrueAnon were affected, among others. The common thread? It seems that most or all of the affected journalists had been critical of Musk and his ventures. "I haven't received any communications from Twitter/X about why I have been suspended," Monacelli told *Motherboard* in an email. "I can't think of anything I've posted lately that would be worthy of suspensions. Although I have written multiple critical reports about Twitter/X and Elon Musk." In a [post to Instagram](), MacLeod wrote that "I assume the real reason is political" as he had never "even remotely been involved in any controversy/ been reported/ been stuck in Twitter jail before." Rob Israel, who recently painted an [unflattering cartoon]() of Musk, was also suspended. Needless to say, the action highlights Musk's [hypocritical stance]() on what he likes to refer to as "free speech." Especially following his acquisition of the website, he has [cracked down]() hard on his critics. ## Ban Hammer Of course, this isn't the first time Musk has purged accounts of people who he had a personal bone to pick with. In late 2022, shortly after his [chaotic takeover]() of the social media platform, the company suspended a significant number of journalists who'd written critically about the acquisition, including *New York Times* reporter Ryan Mac, *Washington Post* reporter Drew Harwell, and Substack writer Aaron Rupar. Then in April, X [suspended]() *Wired* reporter Dell Cameron, who had previously interviewed an individual who had hacked the emails of conservative commentator Matt Walsh. As to be expected at this point, neither X nor Musk have given any official statement regarding the latest suspensions. But whether their departures will even matter is another question. The platform has [lost much of its relevancy]() ever since Musk has taken over, making way for a flood of misinformation and [hate speech](). Musk himself has [championed]() notorious disinformation accounts and [spread racist conspiracy theories]() himself. In short, perhaps it's best to finally say goodbye to the "[flaming dumpster]()" — in Musk's own words — once and for all, a slow and [excruciating demise]() that arguably can't happen fast enough. **More on Twitter:** *[Elon Musk’s Grok AI Accuses Him of Going to Court for Pedophilia]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()