Free speech blogging site Substack is hiring new staff, but does not want anyone who is fleeing Twitter after Elon Musk became a board member.
The announcement was made by Substack’s Vice President of Communications, Lulu Cheng Meservey.
“Substack is hiring!” she tweeted.
However, she added: “If you’re a Twitter employee who’s considering resigning because you’re worried about Elon Musk pushing for less regulated speech… please do not come work here.”
https://twitter.com/lulumeservey/status/1511381312661245954
Meservey went on: “But for everybody else, we really are hiring! Join a talented, determined, passionate, motley team of all backgrounds and beliefs…Long live independent publishing.”
The apparent snub, which Meservey called a “lighthearted poke,” comes after aerospace and electric car entrepreneur Elon Musk announced he had bought 9% of Twitter’s stock, becoming its largest shareholder and a company board member.
Elon Musk to join Twitter board after taking $2.9bn stake https://t.co/ITA1Q57oN2
— Media Guardian (@mediaguardian) April 5, 2022
This 9% dwarf’s former Twitter CEO Jack Dirsey’s 2.3%.
Musk, who is the richest man in the world, says he looks forward to making “significant improvements” to Twitter in coming months.
The South African has been critical of Twitter recently, tweeting a poll with the attached caption: “Free speech is essential to a functioning democracy. Do you believe Twitter rigorously adheres to this principle?”
The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 25, 2022
He added: “The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully.”
The poll received more than 2 million votes, with over 70 percent answering “no.”
The following day Musk tweeted:
“Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy. What should be done? Is a new platform needed?”
Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy.
What should be done? https://t.co/aPS9ycji37
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 26, 2022
Musk has also recently refused to block Russian news sources via his satellite systems, describing himself as a “free speech absolutist.”
Starlink has been told by some governments (not Ukraine) to block Russian news sources. We will not do so unless at gunpoint.
Sorry to be a free speech absolutist.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 5, 2022