Elon Musk announced on Saturday that his social media company X will offer financial support to users who encounter backlash from their employers due to their posts on the platform. This move aims to assist users, including celebrities and public figures, who have faced repercussions for controversial content they shared or engaged with on the platform, previously known as Twitter.
In a tweet, Musk stated, “If your employer treats you unfairly because of something you posted or liked on this platform, we will cover your legal expenses. No restrictions. Please inform us if you need assistance.”
However, specific details on the process of claiming the financial aid were not provided by Musk.
Since Musk acquired the social media platform for $44 billion in October of the previous year, its advertising business has suffered a decline, partly due to its lenient approach towards blocking hate speech and the return of previously banned far-right accounts.
Musk has consistently emphasized his commitment to preserving free speech, expressing concerns about the encroachment of changing cultural sensitivities on freedom of expression.
The nonprofit organization, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), has reported an increase in hate speech on the platform. X has refuted these claims and is currently engaging in a legal battle with CCDH.
In December, Musk restored former US President Donald Trump’s Twitter account, although Trump has not yet returned to the platform. Twitter banned Trump in early 2021 due to his involvement in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, carried out by some of his supporters seeking to overturn the 2020 election results.
Recently, X reinstated rapper and designer Kanye West’s account, around eight months after it was suspended, according to media reports. West, now professionally known as Ye, had posted an image last fall that appeared to depict a swastika intertwined with a Star of David, resulting in his suspension by Musk from the platform.
