The accounts of reporters from New York Times, CNN, and Washington Post were suspended after Elon Musk accused them of sharing his location data.
However, amid growing criticism, he created a poll asking users what to do next. 59% of the 3.6 million users who participated in the poll voted for the immediate unblocking of the accounts.
“People have spoken. The accounts that reported my location will be unlocked immediately,” he wrote on Twitter.
However, one account remains blocked: @elonjet. The account belongs to Jack Sweeney, who used Twitter data on flights and landings of Musk’s private jet.
Elon Musk accused Jack Sweeney of stalking and called him a “crazy stalker,” revealing that he had followed his son’s car. As a result, Musk filed a lawsuit against Sweeney.
Twitter’s privacy policy has been updated, now users “cannot post private information about others without their consent.”
The blocking of journalists’ accounts has been condemned by the EU and the UN.
“Press freedom is not a toy,” said UN Deputy Secretary-General Melissa Fleming. “A free press is the cornerstone of democratic societies and a key tool in the fight against disinformation.”
EU Commissioner Vera Jourova threatened Twitter with sanctions under the new European Digital Services Act, which, according to her, requires “respect for media freedom and fundamental rights.”
Since Elon Musk took over Twitter, several changes have been made to content moderation. He reinstated several previously banned accounts, including the profile of former U.S. President Donald Trump, which had been blocked after the January 6 Capitol riot.