[ad_1]
LONDON (AP) — A British parliamentary committee examining the online security bill has invited Elon Musk to discuss his plans to acquire Twitter and proposed changes to the social media platform.
Parliament’s digital committee on Wednesday asked the Tesla CEO to provide “more in-depth” evidence about his proposals.
Musk said it’s too early to give an answer.
“I am honored and thanked Parliament for their invitation, but it would be premature at this time to accept the deal as there has not yet been a shareholder vote to approve it,” he said.
The committee said it was interested in Musk’s plans, particularly in his intention to make verification available to all users, reflecting his advice to the UK government.
Musk said Twitter wants “all people to verify their identity,” a vague proposition that could be related to its desire to rid the website of automated spam accounts.
The UK government’s online safety bill, which is under review by MPs in Parliament, will give regulators far-reaching powers to crack down on digital and social media companies.
The bill’s measures to combat online abuse include requiring the largest platforms to provide users with the option to verify their identity and not interact with unverified users.
“At a time when social media companies are facing tighter regulation around the world, we would like to learn more about how Mr. Musk will balance his clear commitment to freedom of expression with new obligations to protect Twitter users from online harm.” said committee chairman Julian Knight.
It’s not the first time the committee has invited a tech boss to testify. In 2018, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg declined an invitation to answer questions as part of his investigation into fake news.
[ad_2]
Source link