Elon Musk reinstated a Twitter account that shared child sexual abuse imagery as the company desperately attempts to attract advertisers

Elon Musk Reinstates Twitter Account Sharing Child Sexual Abuse Video

On July 23, Elon Musk, who now goes by the name X, reinstated a Twitter account that had shared a screenshot from a child sexual abuse video. This action by Musk has raised concerns about Twitter’s commitment to its “zero-tolerance” policy on child sexual exploitation and has contributed to the platform’s toxic advertising environment.

Musk Reinstates Account of Conspiracy Theorist Dom Lucre

After Twitter rebranded and changed its logo on July 24, Musk decided to reinstate the account of conspiracy theorist Dom Lucre. This account had been suspended less than a day earlier for sharing an image from a notorious child sexual abuse film. Musk’s decision to reinstate the account, despite pressure from right-wing accounts, contradicts Twitter’s “zero-tolerance” policy on sexually exploitative content involving children. This move also goes against Musk’s previous pledges to prioritize the removal of child sexual abuse imagery from Twitter.

Ongoing Issue of Child Sexual Abuse Material on Twitter

Multiple reports have highlighted the ongoing problem of child sexual abuse material on Twitter. Some attribute this issue to Musk’s reduction of Twitter’s platform-safety teams. Despite Musk appointing Linda Yaccarino as CEO and launching a corporate rebrand to attract advertisers back to the platform, little has changed. Twitter continues to serve as a platform for anti-LGBTQ hate speech, including instances involving Musk himself, undermining Yaccarino’s claims of progress in combating hate speech.

Advertisers on Twitter and Their Impact

Despite the controversies surrounding Twitter, a major advertising agency has recently removed the platform’s “high risk” status, and major advertisers continue to finance Musk’s toxic platform. According to recent advertising data, the top spenders on Twitter ads in July include Apple Inc., FinanceBuzz.io, Amazon, Mondelez International, and Hewlett Packard. These advertisers collectively earned over 2.3 billion impressions on their ads during this time frame.

However, previous research by Media Matters has shown that ads from major companies have appeared alongside tweets from previously banned accounts, including right-wing extremists, COVID-19 misinformers, and Holocaust deniers. Even after Musk’s rebranding efforts, ads from companies such as Deloitte, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and USA Today have been found on the account of a known neo-Nazi.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The article discusses issues related to child sexual abuse, hate speech, and advertising on Twitter. These issues are connected to several SDGs, including SDG 5 (Gender Equality), as child sexual abuse disproportionately affects girls and women; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), as the article mentions the impact of advertising revenue on Twitter’s financial situation; SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), as the article highlights the presence of hate speech and extremist content on the platform; and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), as it discusses the failure of Twitter’s policies and safety teams to address these issues effectively.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in public and private spheres
• Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers
• Target 10.1: By 2030, progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40% of the population at a rate higher than the national average
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

The article’s content highlights the need to address violence against women and girls, protect labor rights, reduce income inequality, and promote the rule of law and equal access to justice.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 5.2.1: Proportion of ever-partnered women and girls subjected to physical, sexual, or psychological violence by a current or former intimate partner in the previous 12 months
• Indicator 8.8.1: Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and migrant status
• Indicator 10.1.1: Growth rates of household expenditure or income per capita among the bottom 40% of the population and the total population
• Indicator 16.3.1: Proportion of victims of violence in the previous 12 months who reported their victimization to competent authorities or other officially recognized mechanisms

The article does not explicitly mention these indicators, but they can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets. These indicators focus on measuring the prevalence of violence against women, occupational injuries, income growth among the bottom 40% of the population, and reporting of violence to competent authorities.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: mediamatters.org

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