WASHINGTON: Twitter CEO Elon Musk has “threatened” to transfer National Public Radio’s Twitter account to another company or individual, according to the US-based broadcaster.
NPR said that Musk indicated he would give another company or individual control of the network’s primary account, which goes by the name @NPR.
NPR stopped posting content to its 52 official Twitter feeds last month in protest against a Twitter designation that indicated government involvement in its editorial content.
According to the public broadcaster, Musk enquired about its engagement with Twitter in an email to an NPR reporter. “So, will NPR resume posting on Twitter, or should we transfer @NPR to another organisation?” NPR cited Musk as saying in the email.
In another email, Musk stated, “Our policy is to recycle unquestionably dormant handles. All accounts are subject to the same policy. There won’t be any favours for NPR.”
NPR or Twitter did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters
In order to prevent their account from being permanently deleted for lengthy inactivity, Twitter users are required to log in at least once every 30 days.
Following NPR’s example and ceasing their Twitter postings in response to similar labelling, PBS and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation did the same.
The targeted outlets have not resumed operation, their accounts indicated on Tuesday, even though Twitter subsequently removed the labels.
