X to Hire 100 Employees for Content Moderation Center in Austin
According to Bloomberg, X is planning to hire 100 individuals for a new content moderation center in Austin. The focus of this center will be combatting child sexual exploitation and enforcing content rules set by the company. Elon Musk, who has faced criticism for his approach to content moderation since taking over the platform, is leading this initiative.
Austin's Tech Hub Revival: X's New Content Moderation Headquarters
Elon Musk's vision for Austin as a thriving tech hub seems to be coming to life. X's head of business operations, Joe Benarroch, shared that the company aims to hire 100 full-time workers for its new content moderation headquarters in Austin. This move is seen as a step towards revitalizing the city's tech industry.
Fighting Exploitation and Enforcing Restrictions: The Responsibilities of Moderators
While the exact opening date of the new center has not been disclosed, the employees will have the crucial mission of combatting content related to child sexual exploitation. Additionally, they will be responsible for enforcing X's restrictions on hate speech. Joe Benarroch emphasized the importance of these investments in preventing offenders from using the platform for distribution or engagement with such content.
Age Restrictions and User Statistics
X requires its users to be at least 13 years old. The company revealed that less than 1% of its daily users fall in the 13-17 age range. These statistics highlight the company's commitment to maintaining a user base that complies with age restrictions and safety regulations.
Musk's Approach to Content Moderation
Since taking control of X in October 2022, Elon Musk has faced criticism for his no-guardrails approach to the platform's trust and safety operations. He swiftly removed hundreds of content moderators and employees from the content moderation team, which raised concerns among advertisers about the potential increase in hate speech on the platform.
Before assuming control of X, Musk identified as a "free speech absolutist" and criticized the platform for its failure to adhere to free speech principles, which he believed undermined democracy.
Challenging California's Online Content Moderation Law
Elon Musk's plans for the new content moderation center coincide with his efforts to prevent a California law that regulates online content moderation. The law requires social media companies to publish detailed annual reports disclosing information about their content moderation practices. This development suggests that Musk may be reconsidering his strategy in light of the need for effective content moderation and its impact on advertising revenue.
Source: Business Insider
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By: lvaranasi@insider.com (Lakshmi Varanasi)
Title: Elon Musk Plans to Establish a New Content Moderation Center for X in Austin
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-x-twitter-content-moderation-austin-2024-1
Published Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2024 21:36:08 +0000
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