Reddit Group Banned After Clash with Elon Musk, Reports BBC
The BBC reports that Reddit has temporarily banned a popular community called r/WhitePeopleTwitter after users posted comments calling for violence against employees of Elon Musk’s team, known as the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). This happened after reports suggested that Doge staff had access to sensitive personal information of millions of Americans.
Elon Musk, who often talks about supporting free speech, shared these comments on his platform, X, and said they were “breaking the law.” Soon after, Reddit banned the group for 72 hours. According to the BBC, Reddit explained that while debate is allowed, threats and sharing private information (doxing) are not.
This isn’t the first time Musk has been involved in online disputes. In 2024, he criticized legal action against people for offensive comments online, asking if it was “Britain or the Soviet Union.”
However, critics like Imran Ahmed from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) say Musk often applies different rules for himself. Ahmed told the BBC, “He’s about freedom – but only his own freedom, no matter the cost to others.”
Tensions between Musk and Reddit users have been growing. Recently, over 100 Reddit groups banned links to X in protest after Musk made a controversial arm gesture at a rally celebrating Donald Trump’s return to office. Some compared the gesture to a Nazi salute, but Musk dismissed this as “dirty tricks.”
The BBC notes that Reddit also permanently banned a group called r/IsElonDeadYet, where users joked about Musk’s death. These bans come as Musk’s Doge team, which aims to cut government spending, faces backlash online.
Reports say the team has access to trillions of dollars in government funds, sparking criticism and even threats against its staff.
On Monday, a Trump-appointed prosecutor said the FBI is investigating the targeting of Doge employees. In a letter to Musk, the prosecutor warned that threats against Doge workers could break the law and promised legal action against anyone causing harm.
The BBC highlights the irony in Musk’s stance on free speech, as he has previously sued groups like CCDH for criticizing his platform.
While Musk champions free speech, his actions often lead to heated debates and legal battles, showing the complexity of balancing online freedom with safety.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/czrlep5xpmzo