While Elon Musk and his Twitter Files are exposing the inner workings of the social media company’s previous regime, the self-proclaimed Chief Twit is taking steps to ensure he never gets Twitter Files’d during his own reign.
Platformer managing editor Zoe Schiffer reported Saturday that Musk sent out an email warning the company’s remaining employees about leaking “confidential” information, and threatening to potentially sue those who violated the non-disclose agreements.
“As evidenced by the many detailed leaks of confidential Twitter information, a few people at our company continue to act in a manner contrary to the company’s interests and in violation of their NDA,” Musk’s email stated.
“This will be said only once: If you clearly and deliberately violate the NDA that you signed when you joined, you accept liability to the full extent of the law & Twitter will immediately seek damages.”
Employees were given until 5 p.m. to sign the NDAs. The warning is in marked contrast to Musk’s stance as a “free speech absolutist” who has frequently tweeted like-minded catchphrases like “Sunlight is the best disinfectant” and “Transparency is the key to trust,” yet doesn’t share those same beliefs when it comes to his own tenure at Twitter.
Fittingly, the email was leaked to Schiffer, who also shared a link to The Tech Worker Handbook to inform them of their rights.
Musk, meanwhile, riled up the right Friday night with a Twitter Files drop about Twitter’s decision to ban Donald Trump amid the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Musk, however, hasn’t been as forthcoming about his own rationale for banning users: After suspending Kanye West for posting an image of a swastika, Musk reinstated the Twitter accounts of white supremacists and neo-Nazis despite their previous removal from the platform. (West, it would appear, made the mistake of violating Musk’s personal guidelines, as he was booted soon after tweeting a screengrab of a text message exchange with Musk, as well as an unflattering photo of the Twitter CEO. “FAFO,” Musk tweeted afterward West’s banishment, shorthand for “fucked around, found out.”)
This also isn’t the first time a Musk-led company has flexed the power of an NDA: In 2021, Tesla drivers who tested a beta version of the automaker’s Full Self-Driving technology were asked to sign NDAs to prevent information critical of the software from reaching both the media and the public.
“Do remember that there are a lot of people who want Tesla to fail,” the NDA within the Early Access Program stated (via Inverse). “Don’t let them mischaracterize your feedback and media posts.”
The NDAs drew the ire of the The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which “relies on reports from consumers as an important source of information in evaluating potential safety defects” as the agency noted in a letter to Tesla. “Any agreement that may prevent or dissuade participants in the early access beta release program from reporting safety concerns to NHTSA is unacceptable. Moreover, even limitations on sharing certain information publicly adversely impacts NHTSA’s ability to obtain information relevant to safety,” the letter stated.