This week in tech, Elon Musk continues to be a source of controversy and humor. The billionaire CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter) admitted in a deposition that his tweets probably hurt the value of his company, and it was revealed that he roleplays as a toddler on a burner account. Additionally, Musk is facing scrutiny for his refusal to police misinformation on the platform, and has been involved in a war of words with the government of Brazil.
In other news, tens of thousands of LG smart TVs have been found to have software vulnerabilities that could allow cybercriminals to hijack them. It’s important to update your device as soon as possible to avoid being targeted by malicious actors.
X owner Elon Musk has made significant changes to the platform since acquiring it for $44 billion in 2022, including eliminating the word “tweet” and trying to change all references to Twitter.com to X.com without asking users. He has also sold off the company’s famous blue bird memorabilia.
In a 108-page deposition, Musk discussed his strange alternate accounts on the platform, including one where he roleplays as a toddler. The deposition was part of a lawsuit that alleges Musk falsely accused a 22-year-old Jewish man of participating in a Neo-Nazi brawl.
Musk also spent the weekend embroiled in a war of words with the government of Brazil, which has reportedly opened an investigation into his refusal to police misinformation on the platform. He insists that the battle is all about “free speech,” but his history of bowing to authoritarian governments raises questions about his motives.
Other notable stories in tech this week include a video claiming to show a point where the Pacific Ocean meets the North Sea, despite being completely false. Additionally, people have been sharing their concerns about the safety of microwave ovens, and the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident involving a Southwest Airlines flight that was forced to return to its point of origin after the cowling on one of its engines fell off during takeoff.
President Joe Biden is considering a request to stop legal proceedings against Wikileaks co-founder Julian Assange, who’s currently fighting extradition to the US where he faces 18 federal charges related to his publication of secret military documents.
Finally, Dbrand, a maker of skins for mobile devices and faceplates for consoles, got into hot water on social media after making fun of a customer’s last name in a racist way. The company ended up forking over $10,000 to make amends.