On Monday, internet users witnessed a series of Tweets where Elon Musk claimed that Apple Inc. had threatened to ban Twitter Inc. from its app store and that too without any explanation.
The billionaire also claimed that the iPhone manufacturer had presently ceased the ongoing advertisements on the social networking site. The world’s richest person, Elon Musk also revealed that Twitter was being pressured by Apple to comply with its terms for content regulation.
Reportedly, the action would not be unexpected as the company enforces its policies more often which led to the removal of applications like Parler, a favorite of US conservatives, and Gab. After updating its content and moderation policies and procedures, Parler was revived by Apple in 2021, according to the businesses at the time.
“Apple has mostly stopped running Twitter ads. Do they despise American freedom of speech?”
Apple has mostly stopped advertising on Twitter. Do they hate free speech in America?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
Elon musk tweeted who also paid $44 billion recently to take over Twitter.
In a subsequent post, he included Apple CEO Tim Cook’s Twitter handle and questioned, “What’s going on here?”
What’s going on here @tim_cook?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 28, 2022
Musk also responded “yes” when asked if Apple was threatening Twitter’s inclusion in the App Store or making requests for moderation.
According to ad monitoring company Pathmatics, the most valuable company in the world spent less on Twitter advertisements between November 10 and November 16 compared to October 16 and October 22, the week before Musk signed the Twitter transaction when he paid $220,800.
Moreover, you will be surprised to know that since the acquisition, several businesses including General Mills Inc. and luxury manufacturer Audi of America, have discontinued their Twitter advertising.
Musk, who is a true supporter of free expression, claimed earlier this month that Twitter had experienced a “huge” decline in revenue and indicated it to pressure from activist organizations on advertisers.
In case you don’t know, about 90% of Twitter’s revenue comes from ad revenues. The company has allowed comic Kathy Griffin, former US President Donald Trump, and US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene to reactivate their accounts.
However, numerous prominent celebrities have deleted their Twitter accounts after Elon Musk took over the platform.
A group of civil rights groups said that they were encouraging Twitter’s advertisers to make announcements about removing their advertisements due to the Trump reinstatement.