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Billionaire Elon Musk wants to enforce "free speech" on Twitter - and unblocks accounts that were blocked for homophobic and racist statements
Photo: DADO RUVIC / REUTERS
According to the new Twitter boss Elon Musk, Apple has threatened to stop selling the short message service app through its online store.
As part of a series of tweets aimed at Apple CEO Tim Cook, among others, Musk wrote on Monday, "Apple has also threatened to ban Twitter from its App Store, but won't tell us why."
Musk also said Apple has largely stopped advertising on Twitter.
"Do you hate freedom of speech in America?" The Tesla boss further accused the iPhone and Mac maker of exerting pressure on content control.
A statement from Apple was initially not available.
The Group regularly enforces the implementation of its rules for content.
This has led, for example, to the online removal of the apps Gab and Parler, which are popular with conservatives in the USA.
Parler returned after the makers said they had adjusted the content and revised the control structures.
Apple spent $131,600 on advertising on Twitter between November 10 and 16, according to advertising research firm Pathmatics.
It was $220,800 from Oct. 16 to Oct. 22 — the week before Musk completed his Twitter purchase.
Before Musk, Twitter had consistently taken action against hate and misinformation
Musk bought Twitter for around $44 billion at the end of October and has been pushing through his ideas with the online service ever since.
This includes the fact that, in his view, Twitter has restricted freedom of speech too much in recent years.
In recent years, Twitter has acted more and more consistently against hate speech, calls for violence and incorrect information about the corona virus.
Musk also unlocked several right-wing accounts that had been blocked for homophobic and racist statements, among other things.
Musk's allegations against the previous Twitter leadership coincide with claims by the US right that conservative views are being suppressed by online platforms.
They often cite the right to free speech in the United States.
However, US legal experts have always emphasized that the government must not restrict the right to free speech.
On the other hand, companies and online platforms have the right to set their own rules for communication on this basis.
A conflict between Musk and Apple has been brewing for some time.
Musk is a thorn in the side of the 15 to 30 percent levy that is due on app platforms for subscription revenues generated within the app.
He announced that Twitter would focus more on subscription revenue rather than advertising.
On Monday, he again attacked a "secret 30 percent levy" that Apple takes on App Store purchases.
In one photo he indicated that he "wanted to go to war" against it.
As usual, after Musk's tweets, his fans formed on the online service, who also attacked Apple.
mgo/dpa/Reuters
