Elon Musk suspends Twitter accounts of journalists he claims ‘doxxed’ him

Twitter suspended the accounts of at least half a dozen journalists late Thursday — with CEO Elon Musk claiming they violated the social media platform’s new “doxxing” policy.

Some of the suspended accounts belonged to reporters who had recently covered – or tweeted about — the dispute between Musk, 51, and a Twitter account operated by Florida college freshman Jack Sweeney that tracks the tech mogul’s private jet flights.

Musk had vowed a day earlier to suspend any Twitter account that posted real-time information on a person’s whereabouts amid his feud with Sweeney and the since-suspended @ElonJet account operated by the teen.

Responding to various tweets about the journalist bans, Musk tweeted late Thursday: “They posted my exact real-time location, basically assassination coordinates, in (obvious) direct violation of Twitter terms of service.”

“7 day suspension for doxxing. Some time away from Twitter is good for the soul,” Musk added in reply to another tweet.

New York Times reporter Ryan Mac, CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan and Drew Harwell of The Washington Post were among those who were blocked.

Matt Binder from Mashable, The Intercept’s Micah Lee and independent journalists Aaron Rupar, Keith Olbermann and Tony Webster also appeared to have their accounts suspended. 

It was unclear what exactly they may have posted that allegedly violated the “doxxing” policy.

Musk briefly tuned into a Twitter Spaces conference chat late Thursday where he was hit with questions from some of the banned journalists.

The tech mogul doubled down on his accusations that those who were suspended had doxxed him while they were reporting on the jet tracking account being banned.

Harwell, of the Washington Post, denied sharing details about Musk’s real-time location, insisting he only reported on the suspension of the @ElonJet account.

“There is not special treatment for journalists,” a defiant Musk said.

“You dox, you get suspended, end of story,” he added, before abruptly leaving the chat.

CNN released a statement Thursday night that blasted the “impulsive and unjustified” suspension of O’Sullivan and others.

“Twitter’s increasing instability and volatility should be of incredible concern for everyone who used Twitter,” the statement read. “We have asked Twitter for an explanation, and we will reevaluate our relationship based on that response.”

The Washington Post’s executive editor, Sally Buzbee, echoed those concerns about its own reporter, adding the suspension undermined Musk’s vow for free speech on the platform.  

“Harwell was banished from Twitter without warning, process or explanation, following the publication of his accurate reporting about Musk,” Buzbee said in a statement. “Our journalist should be reinstated immediately.”

Twitter didn’t immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment about the bans.  

Sweeney’s account tracking Musk’s flights using publicly available data was suspended Wednesday. 

“Any account doxxing real-time location info of anyone will be suspended, as it is a physical safety violation,” Musk tweeted after Sweeney’s account was banned. 

“This includes posting links to sites with real-time location info. Posting locations someone traveled to on a slightly delayed basis isn’t a safety problem, so is ok.” 

Musk, who acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October, has vowed to turn the platform into a bastion of free speech.