Musk probably has no idea was a “free speech absolutist” really is other than code for allowing things he wants to say, and of course getting rid of things he doesn’t like for example the private jet tracker. I’m a lawyer and also pretty much a free speech absolutist in real life - which means I don’t think governments in general should restrict speech (including via the kinds of hate speech laws Germany has - even if I understand the history and rationale I ultimately think more speech is better, but German lawyers I know and respect disagree on this point).
Private companies on the other hand absolutely can and should restrict speech. Including hate speech of the kind that has really appeared to proliferate on Twitter this year. Of course if you own the house you get to set the rules for what is said in your living room, but if those things happen to be racist, sexist, homophobic, antisemitic, or just plain assholery, I’m not going to come visit you and you might wonder why you have no friends (or, to make the analogy plain, why advertisers have abandoned you and you are now $44Bn poorer).
