Oh yes it very much is. But as it often goes, free speech absolutists don't remain so when they get the power to censor.

> Maybe you have to add the year to the search query to find search results from before when Donny got kicked out fairly for serial disrespect.

He attempted to use Twitter to overthrow the government. I call that more than “serial disrespect.”

Their absolute right to free speech, not yours.

Twitter pre-Elon was a stauncher supporter of free speech than Twitter post-Elon, especially with regards to resisting interference from governments. Elon's actual beef was over Twitter's moderation decisions, and free speech is a fundamentally incoherent basis for moderation, especially given that free speech laws of different countries are incompatible.

The moderation foibles of Elon Musk's Twitter were entirely predictable (and predicted!) before the takeover, and it's very clear that Elon is in the (very large) group of people who believe that only speech they agree with deserves protection.

It's free speech alright - within "acceptable matrix parameters".

I am entertained by how the "libertarians" on HN were shrieking "bloody murder censorship" at day-to-day moderation decisions, and now falling all over each other to defend this erratic, impulsive chaos as "Musk's right to make business decisions". Pick a lane.

What "supporting free speech mission" are you referring to?