Elon Musk’s platform has entered turbulent waters as it confronts the contentious issue of free speech versus doxxing, following the suspension of several accounts that disclosed the alleged identity of a neo-Nazi cartoonist known as Stonetoss. Identified by researchers as Hans Kristian Graebener, the account’s exposure led to a crackdown by the platform, drawing criticism and reigniting debate over its content moderation policies.
The incident unfolded after an antifascist research group, Anonymous Comrades Collective, asserted that they had unmasked the individual behind Stonetoss, linking the cartoonist to another figure known as Red Panels. The research, which allegedly drew connections between online accounts, podcast appearances, and personal events, indicated Graebener as the man behind the controversial comics. Despite the growing popularity of Stonetoss within right-wing communities for content considered racist, homophobic, and antisemitic, Graebener himself has not responded to any allegations.
This exposure did not go unnoticed on the platform, where the Stonetoss account appealed to its followers, requesting those with “a direct line” to Musk to aid in having the thread deleted, stating, “If Elon’s idea of a ‘free speech’ website is one where people can be intimidated into silence, the outcome will be a site where the Stasi will drive out all dissent.” The appeal also included an offer to Musk to provide a list of people to target, further stating that the issue wasn’t solely about Stonetoss but other “artists” who have ceased creating art due to organized efforts to “punish them IRL.”
Following this plea, the platform’s response was swift and decisive. Accounts that continued to discuss the incident or share details of the research, including Graebener’s name, faced suspensions and content removals. Prominent figures like Jared Holt, a senior research analyst at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, Hannah Gais from the Southern Poverty Law Center, and investigative journalist Steven Monacelli were among those who faced restrictions.
The platform directed these users to delete the offending tweets to regain full account access. In a twist of irony, one user, Alejandra Caraballo, a clinical instructor at the Harvard Law School Cyberlaw Clinic, claimed to have successfully appealed an initial ban by framing herself as a victim of antifa attempts to silence her right-wing viewpoint, only to be suspended again shortly after.
A representative from the platform defended these actions, stating that the posts removed were actioned correctly for “outing the identity of an anonymous user,” despite the absence of such a policy related to anonymity in the company’s terms of service.
In a subsequent development, the account associated with Caraballo was reinstated, although locked for an additional seven days. This reversal occurred after public queries into the account’s status and Musk’s own acknowledgment of the issue, despite previously stating that Caraballo had committed “several doxxing violations.”
Relevant articles:
– Elon Musk’s X Is Suspending Accounts That Reveal a Neo-Nazi Cartoonist’s Alleged Identity
– Elon Musk’s X bans transgender Harvard lawyer for naming a neo-Nazi, Advocate.com, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:00:00 GMT
– Elon Musk’s X suspends users who post alleged name of alt-right comic creator, Mashable, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 18:44:53 GMT
– Elon Musk’s X reinstates transgender Harvard lawyer’s account after suspension, Advocate.com, Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:01:00 GMT