Elon Musk’s X social media platform has walked back its new policy to censor users who use the “wrong” “gender pronouns” following a widespread backlash against the rule.
Last week, it emerged that X quietly updated its policies to state that users will be censored if they use the biologically correct pronouns for a person who claims to be “transgender” or “non-binary.”
The new policy would force people to use the wrong pronouns for someone or awkwardly try to refer to “gender-fluid” people with “they/them” pronouns.
X started enforcing revised rules that were detailed in its platform guidelines for users.
Among other things, X added a section to the “Abuse and Harassment” that concerns the use of pronouns.
It also added restriction on speech when referring to a person who claims they are doing the scientifically impossible task of “transitioning” to a different gender.
The “amended” rules came into force at some point between January 24 and 27 this year but were only brought to light last week.
They state that any X user found to be “purposefully” addressing another using a pronoun different than what that user has chosen for themselves, the “offender” will be punished by having their posts’ visibility on the platform “reduced.”
Under a subtitle of “Use of Prior Names and Pronouns,” the new rule stated:
“We will reduce the visibility of posts that purposefully use different pronouns to address someone other than what that person uses for themselves, or that use a previous name that someone no longer goes by as part of their transition.”
The change provoked a widespread backlash from X users, however.
Many see this as a slow return to the policies and general trends in content moderation and censorship that once blossomed so wildly on the old Twitter.
The pushback against the policy was led in part by podcaster Tim Pool.
A Friday post on X saw Pool vent his ire, instigating disruption to his ad obligations and verified accounts, lest the policy was revived.
Pool went beyond mere words and terminated a substantial ad campaign.
Musk responded by attributing this unexpected policy revision to a Brazilian court verdict.
He said the verdict is currently under appeal and assured that its repercussions should be contained within the Brazilian confines alone.
Musk stated that the new rule will not be applied to the rest of the globe.
Turns out this was due to a court judgment in Brazil, which is being appealed, but should not apply outside of Brazil
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2024
I agree
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 2, 2024
The policy has now been updated to reflect that this policy will only be active in countries that require it.
The policy now states:
“Where required by local laws, we will reduce the visibility of posts that purposefully use different pronouns to address someone other than what that person uses for themselves, or that use a previous name that someone no longer goes by as part of their transition.
“Given the complexity of determining whether such a violation has occurred, we must always hear from the target to determine if a violation has occurred.”
