Elon Musk will not silence the Russian government on Twitter

The maverick tycoon has championed free speech since buying the social media platform last year and has now overturned the decision to limit content from over 300 official Russian government accounts, including that of Vladimir Putin.

In April 2022 - six months before Musk's acquisition of the site - the company said that it would take action against any country that "restricts access to the open internet while they're engaged in armed conflict".

Musk wrote on Twitter: "This platform will neither pronounce nor limit their accounts, but we will rapidly address any attempts at gaming the system.

"It is a weak move to engage in censorship just because others do so. Letting our press be free when theirs is not demonstrates strength."

The billionaire also revealed that Putin had called him a "war criminal" for "helping Ukraine" by providing Starlink satellite internet terminals made by his SpaceX company to the war-torn nation.

Musk said: "I'm told Putin called me a war criminal for helping Ukraine, so he's not exactly my best friend. All news is to some degree propaganda. Let people decide for themselves."

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.