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Twitter's Trust and Safety Head Ella Irwin Steps Down Amidst Criticism

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Twitter's Head Of Trust And Safety Ella Irwin Resigns <br> Image Credit: Zee NEWS

Twitter's Trust and Safety Head Ella Irwin Steps Down Amidst Criticism

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Content Moderation Challenges under Musk's Leadership

Twitter's head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin, has resigned from the company amid growing criticism over its content moderation policies and practices. Irwin is the second person to leave the position since Elon Musk acquired Twitter in October 2023 for $44 billion.

Musk's Controversial Video Decision and Employee Discontent

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Irwin confirmed her departure to several news outlets on Thursday, but did not provide any details on the reasons behind her decision. She had been in charge of overseeing the team that handles issues such as hate speech, misinformation, harassment, and election integrity on the platform.

(Also Read: Second Trust and Safety Chief Resigns from Elon Musk’s Twitter as Content Moderation Remains in the Spotlight)

Twitter's Response to Video Criticism

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Irwin's resignation comes at a time when Twitter is facing multiple challenges and controversies under Musk's leadership. The billionaire entrepreneur has made several changes to the platform that have sparked backlash from users, advertisers, regulators, and civil society groups.

Disagreement over Video Promotion

One of the most contentious changes was Musk's decision to promote a controversial video titled "What Is A Woman?" that was produced by conservative pundits and activists. The video, which was widely criticized for spreading anti-transgender views and misinformation, was part of a pressure campaign that aimed to challenge Twitter's policies on gender identity and expression.

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Employee Reactions and Resignations

Irwin was one of the employees who expressed her disappointment with Musk's decision. According to sources familiar with the matter, she had a heated argument with Musk over the video promotion and threatened to quit if he did not reverse his decision. Musk reportedly told her that he was not going to change his mind and that she was free to leave if she wanted to.

Continuity Challenges and Previous Resignation

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Irwin's departure follows that of Yoel Roth, who was the previous head of trust and safety at Twitter before Musk took over. Roth resigned in November 2022, citing his disagreement with Musk's vision and direction for the platform. Roth wrote an op-ed in The New York Times, where he said that he could not work for a Twitter that was defined by "unilateral edict" rather than "principled development".

Struggles with Moderation and Platform Changes

Since Roth's resignation, Irwin had been trying to fill the gap and maintain some semblance of order and consistency in Twitter's content moderation policies and practices. However, she faced many difficulties and frustrations as she had to deal with Musk's unpredictable and impulsive decisions.

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Platform Changes and Leadership Appointments

For instance, Musk announced in January 2023 that he had hired Linda Yaccarino, the former NBCUniversal advertising chief, as Twitter's new CEO. Yaccarino had no prior experience in social media or content moderation, and her appointment raised questions about her qualifications and suitability for the role.

Controversial Features and Platform Direction

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Musk also introduced a new feature called Community Notes, which allows users to add context and commentary to tweets. Musk claimed that this feature would help combat misinformation and foster healthy discourse on Twitter. However, critics argued that this feature would only create more confusion and chaos on the platform, as users could use it to spread their own biases and agendas.

(Also Read: San Francisco’s ‘Chinatown Cowboy’ Crowdfunds Move to Escape Fentanyl Crisis)

Allegations of Ideological Shift and Technical Issues

Moreover, Musk has been accused of turning Twitter into a more ideologically conservative platform, by welcoming fired Fox News host Tucker Carlson as a prominent user and relaxing some of Twitter's restrictions on bullying and hateful content. As a result, Twitter has seen an increase in hate speech and harassment against marginalized groups, especially LGBTQ people.

Technical Glitches and Declining Value

Twitter has also faced technical glitches and performance issues under Musk's management. For example, last week, Twitter failed to launch a live audio event featuring Ron DeSantis, the Republican presidential candidate for 2024. The event was supposed to be hosted on Twitter Spaces, a feature that allows users to create and join audio chat rooms. However, due to a technical error, the event was delayed by several hours and eventually canceled.

Regulatory Scrutiny and Value Decline

Twitter has also lost a significant amount of its value and market share since Musk's acquisition. According to an investor report released last month, Twitter's value has dropped by two-thirds since October 2022. The report attributed this decline to Musk's poor decisions and lack of strategy for the platform.

Uncertain Future and Trust Restoration

Twitter has also faced increasing scrutiny from regulators over its content moderation efforts. In May 2023, Twitter withdrew from a voluntary agreement with the European Union to tackle disinformation on its platform. The company said that it was committed to complying with upcoming internet rules in the EU, but did not explain why it quit the agreement. The EU industry chief Thierry Breton warned Twitter that it would not be able to avoid legal obligations in the EU after quitting the agreement.

Challenges Ahead and Rebuilding Trust

Irwin's resignation is another problem for Twitter, as it leaves the platform without a clear leader or direction for its trust and safety function. It is unclear who will replace Irwin or how Twitter will address the mounting challenges and criticisms that it faces. It is also uncertain whether Twitter will be able to regain the trust and loyalty of its users, advertisers, employees, and stakeholders, who have been alienated and disappointed by Musk's actions.

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