It seems that Elon Musk is always in the news for one reason or another. He has become especially popular after acquiring Twitter. Moving on to own what many consider the "world's public square", it's interesting to find out what Musk has to say about free speech.Beyond the implications that his views on freedom of speech might have on the platform, exactly how does Elon Musk feel about free speech? According to Musk, who's allowed to hold the microphone and, perhaps more importantly, who isn't? Keep reading to learn what he says he believes and why.

What Has Musk Said About Free Speech?

Elon Musk has openly criticized online users for expressing frustration with his views on freedom of speech. This is due to their supposedly hostile reactions to Musk allowing certain content on Twitter that was previously prohibited or censored. Even though, there are a few reasons why Musk's buyout could be a good thing.

He has said quite a bit regarding freedom of speech. Most of his statements support the concept, while others seem to go against it.

Musk's Statements About Free Speech

Musk has used a few arguments to justify his views, stating that he's a free speech absolutist. In one case, he provided his own definition, stating: "By 'free speech,' I simply mean that which matches the law. I am against censorship that goes far beyond the law."

Applying this belief can get complicated when you consider the various countries where Twitter users are from—many consider the statement too ambiguous.

He continued: "If people want less free speech, they will ask government to pass laws to that effect. Therefore, going beyond the law is contrary to the will of the people."

Essentially, it seems that he believes freedom of speech is justified when and where a government allows and supports it. Another one of the primary drivers behind his thoughts on free speech involves his idea of open discussion being the catalyst for new ideas and citizen journalism. Musk says he believes freedom of speech allows people to share news without an establishment bias.

It seems that Musk draws the line at impersonation, spam, and calls to violence or illegal content. Although, he hasn't come forward with personal beliefs regarding certain scenarios for hate speech. Instead, he's explained that Twitter currently maintains the same moderation policies that were in place before his takeover of the company.

It's safe to assume that, in many cases, his content moderation decisions and any other changes Elon makes on Twitter are indicators of where he stands regarding certain aspects of free speech.

Freedom of speech in the US protects a person's ability to write, speak, and share opinions and ideas without facing punishment from the US government. The First Amendment also prevents Congress from creating legislation that would otherwise prevent freedom of speech.

The first amendment does, however, allow some limitations. This includes restrictions on content that would fall under the categories of obscenity, child exploitation, incitement, fighting words, true threats, speech with the intent to criminal conduct, and defamation.

Part of the perspective that supports these restrictions seems to be that content in these categories isn't essential to the exposition of ideas and provides little social value as a step to truth. Based on what Musk has stated so far regarding the topic, it seems his views coincide with what freedom of speech looks like inside the US.

What Does Musk Think Isn't Free Speech?

Musk has also been quite public regarding his thoughts on what he doesn't consider free speech. Specifically, he has an especially strong stance against both spam and impersonation. That is, any content made available publicly that isn't coming from a real person or that pretends to come from someone else.

Dealing With the Public's Concerns

The conversation on free speech gets uniquely complicated when topics like fake news and hate speech enter the picture. They're issues that appear to naturally clash with the idea of freedom of speech and expression as fundamental pillars of democracy. He states that he's all for people expressing themselves freely, even though some of Musk's own tweets have come back to bite him.

His reaction to much of the public criticism, though, has been to focus on dealing with one major issue. That is, parody accounts that might spread misinformation that can cause serious harm.

In a move that seems contrary to his absolutist beliefs regarding free speech, he's decided to ban any parody accounts that don't make it clear that they're parody. This pushes the needle a bit away from his apparent free speech absolutist position.

So, owning Twitter and the related complexities aside, Musk seems to feel that freedom of speech is essential whenever and wherever it allows people to express themselves without directly harming others and while following the legislation in the given country.

Musk's Take on Free Speech

While there's plenty to talk about regarding Musk's takeover of Twitter, it's interesting to dive into how he feels about freedom of speech. He seems to have found an opinion that sits in the middle between two extremes. And, while there are plenty of people that speak out against his take, many consider that it makes sense overall.

His claims are backed by many of his actions, but this doesn't mean he hasn't been contradictory. It'll be interesting to see if his beliefs change, over time, after obtaining Twitter.