INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, will remove a protective feature that lets users block other accounts, owner Elon Musk
said on Friday in another controversial move for the company he bought last year. The block function on X allows a user to restrict
specific accounts from contacting them, seeing their posts or following them, Reuters reported on Saturday.&Block is going to be deleted as
a ‘feature&, except for DMs,& Musk said in a post on the platform, referring to direct messages.He said X would retain the mute function,
which screens a user from seeing specified accounts but, unlike blocking, does not alert the other account to the action.The billionaire
owner has described himself as a free speech absolutist, but some critics have said his approach is irresponsible
Researchers have found an increase in hate speech and antisemitic content on the platform since he took over, and some governments have
accused the company of not doing enough to moderate its content.Removing or limiting the block feature might bring X into conflict with
guidelines incorporated by Apple&s (AAPL.O) App Store and Alphabet&s (GOOGL.O) Google Play.Apple says apps with user-generated content must
have the ability to block abusive users
Google Play Store says apps must provide an in-app system for blocking user-generated content and users.Responding to a post from
anti-bullying activist Monica Lewinsky urging X to keep the &critical tool to keep people safe online&, Chief Executive Linda Yaccarino
defended Musk&s move.&Our users& safety on X is our number one priority
And we&re building something better than the current state of block and mute
Please keep the feedback coming,& Yaccarino posted.The company has said Musk would lead the product and engineering teams, while Yaccarino
would lead all other teams, including legal and sales.The post Elon Musk says X will strip ability to block accounts first appeared on
