Ripple CTO Criticizes Elon Musk's X Fee Policy
The new Twitter (now X) owner has attracted criticism for his idea to charge new users fees for posting, commenting, and replying
April 17, 2024 03:09 AM
Reading time: 1 minute, 36 seconds
TL;DR Ripple CTO David Schwartz publicly opposes Elon Musk's decision to impose a fee on new users of X (formerly Twitter) for the right to post and engage. This policy aims to reduce spam and bot activity but raises concerns about free speech implications.
Elon Musk's recent policy update for X, which requires new users to pay a "small fee" to post, like, reply, or bookmark, has sparked a significant debate among tech and crypto leaders.
Ripple's CTO, David Schwartz, is among the vocal opponents, questioning the platform's commitment to free speech.
Musk's Anti-Bot Strategy
Elon Musk defended the policy as a necessary measure to combat the "relentless onslaught of bots," which, according to him, have become sophisticated enough to bypass traditional detection methods.
The policy, already active in New Zealand and the Philippines, aims to preserve the quality of discourse on X by preventing spam and preserving desirable usernames from being captured by bots.
"Implementing a small fee for new user write access is necessary to combat bots," Musk stated, highlighting the severity of the issue.
Ripple CTO's Counterargument
However, David Schwartz's response to Musk's policy underscores a fundamental concern about the essence of free speech on the platform.
Schwartz argues that imposing a fee contradicts Musk's previously stated commitment to free speech, suggesting that the policy might selectively silence lawful but undesired speech.
In the broader crypto community, the effectiveness of the fee as a deterrent for spam and scam activities is also under scrutiny.
Crypto investigator ZachXBT pointed out that scammers have historically been willing to invest significant amounts to appear legitimate, suggesting that a small fee might not effectively deter malicious actors.
The Debate Continues
The conversation between Schwartz and Musk's supporters highlights a more profound debate about the balance between free speech and platform integrity. While the fee aims to protect the platform from manipulation, it also raises questions about who gets to speak and who doesn't based on their willingness or ability to pay.
The digital community will closely watch as the policy unfolds, paying particular attention to its impact on user engagement, free speech, and the battle against bots and spam on X.
