Twitter Files: What they are and why they matter
CBSN
The so-called Twitter Files are the brainchild of Twitter owner Elon Musk, who has said he wants to show "what really happened" behind the scenes regarding content moderation decisions at the social media company before he bought it in October.
The Twitter Files have been released in dribs and drabs throughout December, with three journalists — Matt Taibbi, Bari Weiss and Michael Shellenberger — delving into the internal documents and discussions to highlight the company's decision-making process around some high-profile actions, such as banning former President Donald Trump in January 2020.
Under Musk, who has said he wants Twitter to be a mecca for free speech, the company has reinstated some previously banned accounts, such as those belonging to Trump, far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ye (the rapper formerly known as Kanye West). Musk has been critical of the prior management's content moderation decisions, arguing that they engaged in censorship.
