As users target Elon Musk, Reddit bans one of its communities and removes another; here's what they were sharing

After Elon Musk, the owner of X, claimed that user comments about his employees were illegal, Reddit temporarily banned one of its communities and deleted another.

The r/WhitePeopleAfter some users called for violence against members of the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a Twitter subreddit that usually encourages users to share amusing posts from X was banned for 72 hours.

They were reacting to allegations that certain DOGE employees had been given access to millions of Americans' private and sensitive data.


"They have broken the law," said Elon Musk, who regularly defends his commitment to free speech, in a post on X that included the comments. Soon after, the subreddit was banned, as quoted in a report by the BBC News.

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Debate and dissent are welcome on Reddit; threats and doxing are not. In the past, Elon Musk has criticized the legal action being taken against individuals for posting comments on the internet, as quoted in a report by the BBC News.

Elon Musk's remarks contained rich irony, according to Imran Ahmed, the director of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH).

"It is always one rule for Elon, another rule for everyone else," he stated. "Oh, he's about freedom alright—the freedom to do whatever he wants, no matter the cost to people, their families, and the fundamentals of democracy."

In 2023, Elon Musk filed a lawsuit against the CCDH, alleging that it had taken illegal measures to obtain X data after claiming that hate speech had increased on the platform. In 2024, a US judge dismissed the case.

Tension increases

Tensions have escalated between the billionaire and Reddit users in recent weeks, with more than 100 subreddits banning users from posting links to X in protest at Musk's controversial arm gesture at a rally celebrating Donald Trump's return to office.

On Monday, a prosecutor appointed by Donald Trump said the FBI was investigating the targeting of DOGE staff. United States Attorney for the District of Columbia Edward Martin said he would not tolerate threats against DOGE workers or law-breaking by the disgruntled.

FAQs

Why did Reddit ban the r/WhitePeopleTwitter subreddit?
It was temporarily banned after users made threatening remarks about Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) employees.

What happened to the r/IsElonDeadYet Reddit?
Reddit permanently removed it due to repeated posts about Elon Musk's well-being, which violated platform policies.