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Elon Musk Begins Purging Twitter of Up to 3500 Employees

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2 years ago

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X Elon Musk Begins Purging Twitter of Up to 3500 Employees

Billionaire Elon Musk began purging Twitter of its abundance of managers and woke employees on Friday. 

Elon Musk’s overhaul of Twitter has sparked condemnation from leftist progressives and Democrats who say they are worried over the platform’s ability to combat disinformation just days before the US midterm elections.

Musk’s purge of Twitter has led to legal action from the left. At least one lawsuit was filed in San Francisco on Thursday, saying that Twitter violated federal law by failing to provide needed notice to sacked employees.

Musk informed employees through email that they would find out if they had been laid off on Friday. 

His email did not specify how many approximately 7,500 employees would be let go.

Musk did neither confirm nor correct investor Ron Baron, who asked how much money he would save if he “fired half of Twitter” at a conference in New York on Friday.

Musk responded by discussing Twitter’s cost and income issues, blaming activists within Twitter who persuaded large corporations to stop advertising on the platform. 

Musk hasn’t said anything about the Twitter layoffs.

Activist groups, including employees, have been successful in causing a decline in Twitter advertising revenue. We’ve done everything we can to please them, but nothing has worked,” Musk said. 

He went on to say that the decline in advertising was expected as many of the advertisers were aligned with EGS, Environmental, social, and corporate governance.

When activist employees lost access to their work accounts hours earlier, they realized they would soon be fired. 

These employees and others took to the platform using the hashtag #OneTeam to send messages of solidarity. 

The memo to employees stated that job cuts were “essential to ensure the company’s success moving forward.”

No other social media network comes close to Twitter in terms of keeping people informed by public agencies and other key service providers – electoral boards, police departments, utilities, schools, and news sources. 

Before Musk’s takeover of Twitter, conservatives accused the social media site of being biased against conservative viewpoints.  They were excited by the idea of fair moderation under Musk, who has previously criticized Twitter’s leftist moderation.

Republican, Senator Marsha Blackburn, stated on Friday, “I am hopeful that Elon Musk will assist in reining in Big Tech’s history of silencing users who have a different viewpoint than the left.”

The purge of Spam Bots

Musk has stated that Twitter’s mechanism for ranking tweets should be made public, and he has highlighted user-friendly changes to the service, such as the addition of an edit button and the defeat of “spam bots” that send massive numbers of undesired tweets.

“Free expression is the foundation of a functional democracy,” he stated Monday. “I hope that even my harshest detractors remain on Twitter since that is what free expression entails,” he added.

However, many on the left fear Musk’s layoffs will devastate the social media platform and worry about the possible rise of abuse on the platform. Despite Musk’s saying Twitter would not become a “free-for-all hellscape” under his leadership.

Several employees who tweeted about their job losses claimed that Twitter also eliminated their entire teams, including one devoted to human rights and global conflicts. 

Another group for testing Twitter’s algorithms for bias in how tweets are amplified and an engineering team dedicated to making the social platform more accessible to people with disabilities.

Eddie Perez, a former Twitter civic integrity team manager who resigned in September, expressed concern that the layoffs close to the midterm elections could allow disinformation to “spread like wildfire” during the post-election vote-counting phase in particular.

“I have a hard time believing that doesn’t have a meaningful influence on their capacity to handle the quantity of disinformation out there,” he said, adding that there may not be enough personnel to combat it.

Progressive Attack Musk and Twitter

According to Perez, a board member of the nonpartisan election integrity NGO OSET Institute, the post-election period is especially dangerous because “some candidates may refuse to concede and some may cite election anomalies, which is likely to start a fresh cycle of falsehoods.”

However, a Twitter insider says Perez’s concerns are somewhat overinflated, and his comments are stereotypical of the progressive activism that permeated the social media platform.

Since Musk took over as CEO, Twitter staff have been anticipating layoffs. On his first day as owner, he sacked key executives, including CEO Parag Agrawal, and removed the company’s board of directors.

As the emails went out, many Twitter employees rushed to the site to voice their support for one another, typically just tweeting blue heart emojis to represent the company’s blue bird logo and salute emojis in answer to one another.

Meanwhile, a coalition of progressive civil rights organizations say the broad layoffs will threaten content moderation standards, and they have increased their requests for corporations to suspend advertising purchases on the site. 

This claim has, however, been disputed by Musk supporters saying the progressive left is more worried about their voices being moderated as the platform is being purged of cancel culture activists.

Cancel Culture Activism Surges

The cancel culture activists have said Musk’s layoffs are especially perilous in the run-up to the elections, as well as for transgender people and other groups facing violence spurred by hate speech that circulates online.

Free Press and Color of Change leaders claimed they spoke with Musk on Tuesday, and he committed to keeping and implementing existing election integrity procedures.  According to Jessica González, co-CEO of Free Press, the enormous layoffs suggest otherwise.

González disputed Musk’s claim that content moderation procedures had not changed since his takeover, claiming that the organization was already “dangerously under-resourced.”

“When you purportedly lay off 50% of your workforce — including teams in charge of tracking, monitoring, and enforcing content moderation and guidelines — it essentially suggests that content moderation has changed,” González explained.

Media Bias Fact Check rates Free Press.Org as Far-Left biased based on editorial positions that align with the progressive left. 

They also rate them mostly factual in reporting due to one-sided reporting that does not always offer a counter perspective.

Employee Lawsuits and Income Losses

Meanwhile, a California’s Employment Development Department representative stated that Twitter had provided no public notice of the impending layoffs as of Friday. 

On Thursday, a complaint was filed in US federal court in San Francisco by one laid-off employee and 3 other employees who were locked out of their work accounts. 

The cutbacks come at a difficult time for social media businesses, as advertisers cut back and newcomers — primarily TikTok — threaten established platforms like Instagram and Facebook.

Musk blamed cancel culture activists in a Friday post for a “huge loss in income” since taking over Twitter late last week.  He did not specify how much revenue had been lost.

Large corporations that have bought into ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), such as General Motors, REI, General Mills, and Audi, have all paused advertising on Twitter owing to concerns about how it would run under Musk. 

Volkswagen Group has advised its brands, Audi, Lamborghini, and Porsche, to halt sponsored operations until Twitter updates its brand safety standards.

Musk did tell advertisers last week that Twitter would not become a “free-for-all hellscape,” but many are anxious about whether content monitoring will remain strict and whether sticking to Twitter will degrade their brands.

Musk stated Friday that “nothing has changed with content control.”

Degrading their brand means corporations fear reprisals from woke social media activists who will target their shareholders like they have targeted Musk and Twitter.

 

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Geoff Brown is a seasoned staff writer at VORNews, a reputable online publication. With his sharp writing skills he consistently delivers high-quality, engaging content that resonates with readers. Geoff's' articles are well-researched, informative, and written in a clear, concise style that keeps audiences hooked. His ability to craft compelling narratives while seamlessly incorporating relevant keywords has made him a valuable asset to the VORNews team.

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On December 24, NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Will Make Its Closest Approach To The Sun.

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1 day ago

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2024-12-22

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(VOR News) – NASA’s Parker Solar Probe will make its last approach to the sun, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

This is expected to take place on the 24th of December. On this particular date, it is widely predicted that the project will be finished on time.

It has been reported by Sci Tech Daily that the Parker Solar Probe, which is currently in fine condition and is being controlled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), is functioning in an efficient manner. This data was provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is in charge of supervising the Living With a Star Program, which includes the Parker Solar Probe, which is an essential undertaking associated to the program.

The program is managed by NASA.

The program’s principal mission is to conduct research to enhance understanding of the Sun and its effects on Earth.

The airplane is projected to traverse a distance of 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) from the Sun throughout the mission. In comparison to the Sun, this distance signifies an exceptionally close encounter with the star in question.

The persons responsible for the mission will encounter difficulties in contacting them during the interval when the spacecraft is at its closest approach, known as perihelion.

On December 27th, subsequent to the flyby, it will transmit a signal to confirm its proper functionality and acceptable operation. This will provide as evidence that it is functioning within its standard parameters. The implementation of this plan will ensure its proper functioning.

The acquisition of fresh knowledge and discoveries related to solar activity and phenomena will be facilitated by the subsequent collecting of these data.

“This exemplifies NASA’s audacious missions, undertaking unprecedented endeavors to address enduring inquiries regarding our universe,” stated Arik Posner, a scientist involved in the Parker Solar Probe program at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

“This exemplifies one of NASA’s audacious missions.” “This exemplifies one of NASA’s audacious missions.” “This exemplifies one of NASA’s audacious missions.”

“This has to be one of NASA’s most ambitious undertakings.”

Posner dedicated time and effort to composing this assertion, which he then included into a publicly released statement.

He remarked, “We anticipate receiving the initial status update from the spacecraft and commencing the acquisition of scientific data in the forthcoming weeks.”

This constitutes an additional point of interest. These are additional things of interest to contemplate. This subject is attracting significant attention from persons worldwide.

While at the Advanced Photon Technologies (APT) laboratory, Nick Pinkine, newly appointed mission operations manager for the Parker Solar Probe, noted that “no human-made object has ever approached a star this closely, thus Parker will indeed be transmitting data from uncharted territory.”

Pinkine is responsible for supervising the mission activities of the Parker Solar Probe and is accountable for these operations. Pinkine’s observation pertains to the Parker Solar Probe’s return of data from hitherto uncharted locations. These ecosystems have not been before encountered.

He issued the following remark for the sake of clarification: “We anticipate a response from the spacecraft upon its completion of the solar orbit.”

SOURCE: JN

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Google Responds To The US Bid To Mandate Chrome’s Sale.

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2 days ago

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2024-12-21

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(VOR News) – Google responded to a request from the United States to sell its Chrome browser late on Friday. The request was made by Google’s Chrome browser.

A judge should be asked to settle antitrust issues by barring the corporation from making advantageous treatment of its software a condition of licensing, according to the company’s proposal.

According to a proposed judgement that Google has published, which is twelve pages long, it is forbidden for the internet giant to demand favourable distribution or treatment of its software on mobile devices as a condition of licensing popular apps like Chrome, Play, or Gemini. This is because the proposed ruling prohibits such a requirement.

The United States government, as part of a substantial antitrust assault on the firm, made a motion to a judge in November to compel the deconstruction by selling its Chrome browser, which is widely used. This phase of the inquiry into the corporation was part of a bigger antitrust investigation.

The US Justice Department has called for a shake-up of Google’s business.

This shake-up would include forbidding deals that would allow Google to be the default search engine on mobile devices and preventing the corporation from exploiting its Android mobile operating system among other things.

United States District Court Judge Amit Mehta concluded in August that Google was a monopoly. The next stage of the historic antitrust trial is to discover how to repair the wrongs that Google has committed in its business practices. This is the next stage of the trial.

Google has urged that Mehta stop it from using the licensing desirability of its programs to compel mobile device manufacturers to pre-install its search engine or make it the default option, according to a court filing.

Mehta has also requested that Google be prohibited from employing this method. This request was made in response to the proposition that Mehta had made.

The order that is being considered states that “nothing in this Final Judgement shall otherwise prohibit Google from providing consideration to a mobile device manufacturer or wireless carrier with respect to any product or service in exchange for such entity’s distribution, placement on any access point, promotion, or licensing of that Google product or service.” This clause is incorporated into the order that is being requested.

The decision made by the authorities of the United States government to call for the dissolution of Google reflects a fundamental departure in the approach that they have taken. The authorities have, for the most part, disregarded the digital titans ever since they were unsuccessful in their attempt to smash Microsoft twenty years ago.

If Judge Mehta denies the injunction, Google will likely appeal.

This will most certainly cause the process to drag on for a number of years, and it is possible that the Supreme Court of the United States will have the final word in the matter.

A further issue that has the potential to influence the outcome of the case is the fact that President-elect Donald Trump arrived at the White House in the month of January.

There is a significant possibility that his administration will replace the leadership team that is now in charge of the antitrust division of the Justice Department under the current government.

When it comes to the newcomers, they have three choices: they may either continue with the case, they can ask Google for a settlement, or they can choose not to pursue the case at all.

The trial, which was completed the year before, included an investigation into confidential deals with smartphone manufacturers, including Apple. This investigation was carried out for the entirety of the trial.

The objective of these collaborations is to ensure that Google’s search engine is the default option on any device, including browsers, iPhones, and other gadgets. This is accomplished by charging substantial fees.

The judge came to the judgement that this relationship provided Google with access to user data that was unmatched by any other corporation. As a result, Google was able to build its search engine into a platform that is at the forefront of competition on a worldwide scale.

SOURCE: BR

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Nukkleus Acquires Star 26 Capital Inc., Marking a Strategic Shift.

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Nukkleus Acquires Star 26 Capital Inc., Marking a Strategic Shift.

Published

6 days ago

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2024-12-17

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(VOR News) – A major strategic change has been made when Nukkleus Inc., a fintech business that specialises in digital financial technology, stated that it has paid $26 million to acquire a controlling 51% position in Star 26 Capital Inc.

Israel’s prestigious Iron Dome missile defence system is mostly supplied by RIMON, which Star 26 Capital owns a 95% controlling interest in.

With this acquisition, Nukkleus is expanding from its finance roots into the defence industry, interacting with a rapidly growing industry driven by shifting demands for global security. As businesses look into high-growth industries to improve their market position, the activity aligns with broader trends in strategic diversification.

The Role of Star 26 Capital in the World’s Defence Infrastructure

Through its full ownership in RIMON, Star 26 Capital Inc. plays a crucial role in Israel’s defence infrastructure. The Iron Dome missile defence system, a well acknowledged technology that has successfully saved civilian lives during rising regional tensions, depends heavily on RIMON.

The Iron Dome is renowned for its advanced radar and interceptor systems, which provide outstanding protection from artillery shells and short-range rockets.

Along with the Iron Dome, RIMON has made a name for itself as a key supplier of systems and components for other defence applications.

Their goods include masts, tactical vehicle solutions, specialist generators, and contemporary lighting systems—all crucial for security and military operations. The company operates through exclusive contracts and alliances, which increase its competitiveness in the market.

Nukkleus’s Strategic Justification

The purchase of Star 26 Capital by Nukkleus demonstrates a calculated diversification strategy. This move highlights the company’s goal to leverage emerging opportunities in defence technology, even though finance and digital assets are essential to its operations.

“The acquisition of Star 26 Capital represents a significant milestone, allowing us to enter the rapidly growing defence technology industry,” said Emil Assentato, CEO of Nukkleus. Because of its proven track record of providing vital defence solutions, RIMON is the best partner for us as we work to create long-term value for our investors.

Through this strategic move, Nukkleus is able to profit from the growing global defence budget, which has been exacerbated by regional conflicts, geopolitical instability, and increased security concerns.

By purchasing a share in Star 26 Capital, Nukkleus gains access to cutting-edge technologies and strengthens its position in a prominent international defence industry.

The process of diversification In Light of Changing Market Dynamics

Nukkleus has purposefully diversified its assets during the past year. In order to bolster its position in international financial markets, the company previously inked a term sheet to acquire Mercury Global, a cross-border payments provider.

By acquiring Star 26 Capital, Nukkleus is showcasing a well-rounded expansion strategy by leveraging both financial and defence technologies to increase its footprint.

Star 26 Capital will provide Nukkleus with a significant revenue stream outside of traditional fintech markets thanks to its involvement in the development of tactical vehicles, exclusive contracts for cutting-edge components, and vital contribution to defensive infrastructure.

The Future of Star 26 Capital and Nukkleus

Through the deal, Nukkleus’s financial expertise and Star 26 Capital’s technological know-how may work together more effectively.

Nukkleus is capable of researching financial innovations created especially for military supply chain management, defence contract procurement, and safe international payment options. In an increasingly digital environment, this integration may revolutionise the operational and transactional administration of defence companies.

According to industry analysts, Nukkleus made a bold and wise move by entering the defence market. With the growth of international defence markets and the increasing need for technologies like the Iron Dome, Nukkleus is well-positioned to benefit from this diversification strategy in the long run.

Final evaluation

The purchase of a majority stake in Star 26 Capital and, by extension, RIMON by Nukkleus Inc. represents a significant milestone in the company’s development.

Nukkleus has demonstrated its ability to identify and seize high-growth opportunities by moving from the financial sector to the defence technology sector. This deal strengthens Star 26 Capital’s position as a major player in the global defence ecosystem by providing new avenues for growth and innovation.

By strategically acquiring Star 26 Capital, Nukkleus demonstrated its proactive approach in the military technology space and opened the door for future expansion and influence in a number of industries.

SOURCE: AL

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