“Covid is no longer an issue,” Musk explained. “Has the BBC held itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and side-effects of vaccinations?”
On Tuesday, Twitter broadcast a discussion between Elon Musk and BBC journalist James Clayton, who covers technology in the United States. The pair went back and forth about the platform's content moderation, with Musk destroying each of Clayton's arguments as he tried to convince listeners that things had gotten worse since the handover.
Utilizing the app's Spaces feature, Musk and Clayton reached over 3 million people, many of whom applauded the latter's takedown of his British interviewer.
https://rumble.com/embed/v2f3e1w/?pub=2n05b
https://twitter.com/texaslindsay_/status/1646006232484913153
"Covid misinformation," Clayton said. "You changed the Covid misinformation rules."
"Has BBC changed its Covid misinformation?" Musk retorted.
Clayton deflected the question back to Twitter, pointing out that under Musk, the platform had done away with the labeling of "Covid misinformation."
"Covid is no longer an issue," Musk explained. "Has the BBC held itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and side-effects of vaccinations?"
Musk went on to slam the BBC for allowing itself to be "put under pressure by the British government to change the editorial policy."
"This is not an interview about the BBC," Clayton replied nervously, adding that he couldn't speak on behalf of the company and its editorial policy.
"You weren't expecting that," Musk said as Clayton quickly shifted the conversation to a different topic.
https://twitter.com/TexasLindsay_/status/1646039691525857281
"I had a feeling this interview would go this way with @elonmusk after seeing this old tweet from the BBC guy about @joerogan spreading misinfo," journalist Lindsay Jones said in the aftermath of the discussion.
In the tweet, Clayton accused Rogan of "airing dangerous nonsense on Covid," and suggested that by flagging misinformation, those who publish it were being given publicity.
Aside from Covid misinformation, the pair discussed whether instances of hateful conduct had increased under the new leadership. Clayton claimed that he had seen firsthand that they had, but was unable to provide a single concrete example when pressed by Musk.
https://twitter.com/ducavendish/status/1646102841352765441
"Now I understand why journalists hate Elon," one user commented. "He completely obliterated the man with facts and reason."
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
