Reddit temporarily banned the r/WhitePeopleTwitter subreddit, along with another community, at the urging of Tesla owner Elon Musk. He reported that users were making unlawful comments about his employees. Musk, a vocal advocate for free speech, accused the community of breaking the law and shared the offending posts on X platform.
Following Musk's complaint, Reddit took action and banned the subreddit for 72 hours. While Reddit declined to comment, their public statement emphasized the importance of civil discourse and condemned threats and doxxing on the platform. Musk's past criticism of legal actions for online comments was noted, including a comparison to the Soviet Union.
Imran Ahmed from the Centre for Countering Digital Hate criticized Musk's stance on free speech, stating that Musk's actions show a double standard. Musk had previously sued the CCDH over data access claims but later saw the case dismissed by a US judge.
The subreddit in question had its offending content removed by moderators after public scrutiny but still faced a temporary ban due to the prevalence of violent content. Reddit enforced its policy against inciting violence or doxxing, issuing a temporary ban that will be lifted after 72 hours.
Additionally, Reddit permanently banned the r/IsElonDeadYet subreddit, where users speculated daily on Musk's well-being. These actions followed reports on the access given to Musk's team by the Doge within the administration, which controls federal funds. Despite online backlash, concerns over the safety of Doge staff prompted investigations by authorities.
A prosecutor appointed by Trump announced FBI investigations into threats against Doge workers, warning of legal action against any interference with their duties. Musk was assured of legal protection in a public letter, underscoring the severity of threats against his team.