Twitter dissolves Trust and Safety Council – report

CNN obtained an email sent by Twitter to the council’s members on Monday evening announcing the dissolution of the “Trust and Safety Council.”

In an email, the corporation stated that it was “reevaluating how best to incorporate external perspectives into our product and policy development activities. As part of this process, we’ve determined that the Trust and Safety Council is not the optimal organization for this task.”

Elon Musk, the new owner of Twitter, is dismantling many of the policies and practices in place before his acquisition of the social media business.

A now-removed page on Twitter’s website indicated that the council was comprised of external expert organizations that provided guidance on matters such as online safety, human and digital rights, suicide prevention, mental health, child sexual exploitation, and dehumanization.

Twitter previously noted, “Together, they advocate for the safety and assist us as we create our products, initiatives, and standards.”

Last Monday, three council members quit in protest, noting in a statement that “contrary to Elon Musk’s promises, the safety and wellness of Twitter’s users are declining.”

CNN was informed by a member of the advisory council that Musk terminated the group less than an hour prior to its scheduled meeting with Twitter representatives.

CNN quoted a spokeswoman for the Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT), a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit, as saying, “Rather than address members’ concerns, Twitter disbanded the Council within an hour of the call.”

“CDT and other Council members have been gravely troubled by Twitter’s disrespect for due process, thoughtful policymaking, and investment of resources to protect the platform’s fairness and safety,” the spokesman continued.