The results are in. Here’s what’s happening, what the amnesty for suspended Twitter accounts means, and which accounts will be affected.
The Lead-Up
Twitter has several notable suspended accounts of public figures. One of the most popular was that of former US President Donald Trump, which was suspended in 2021 for the risk of incitement following the US Capitol riots. This was before Musk bought Twitter.
Fast-forward to 23 November and following the reinstatement of Trump’s Twitter account, Musk asked “Should Twitter offer a general amnesty to suspended accounts, provided that they have not broken the law or engaged in egregious spam?”
More than 3 million users participated in the poll with 72 percent voting in favor of restoring suspended accounts that didn’t break the law or engage in spam.
In response, Musk tweeted again stating that the people had spoken. He also hinted that the amnesty would officially begin thereafter. The move is likely part of Musk’s views regarding freedom of speech.
So, what does this mean for previously suspended accounts?
What the Amnesty for Suspended Twitter Accounts Means
Once the suspension is lifted, reinstated accounts will be able to like, tweet, retweet, or share a tweet. They will also be able to follow other accounts and be followed, as well as be able to send and receive messages, among others.
While this may sound like victory for reinstated accounts, naysayers believe that it is a recipe for disaster to restore controversial accounts. For instance, Kanye West’s reinstated account was again suspended (the second time in two months) for posting a swastika symbol inside the Star of David.
