Culture
16 Dec 22

Donie O'Sullivan and other journalists suspended from Twitter

Photo credit: RTÉ.

The Kerry-raised, US-based journalist is among a number of reporters have had their Twitter account suspended by Elon Musk for alleged "doxxing".

A number of journalists were suspended from Twitter yesterday, including Irish CNN reporter Donie O'Sullivan.

Elon Musk removed journalists from the social media app on Thursday, among them the Kerryman who was launched to internet fame after reporting on January 2021's far-right Capitol Hill attack.

O'Sullivan has been one of a number of reporters to cover changes at the social media site since the billionaire's takeover of the platform earlier this year.

Musk tweeted that rules banning the publishing of personal information applied to all, including journalists.

The Tesla tycoon falsely claimed that the journalists had violated his new "doxxing" policy by sharing his live location, amounting to what he described as "assassination coordinates."

Donie O’Sullivan did not share the billionaire’s live location at any stage, it should be noted.

Another account on the platform titled @ElonJet had been using publicly available flight data to track the movements of Musk's jet plane, which was suspended this week.

Speaking to CNN after his suspension, Cahersiveen native O'Sullivan said: "I do think this is very important for the potential chilling impact this can have for freelance journalists, independent journalists around the world, particularly those who cover Elon Musk’s other companies, like Tesla and SpaceX."

A CNN spokesperson said the company has asked Twitter for an explanation for Donie O'Sullivan's suspension, and it would "reevaluate our relationship based on that response."

"The impulsive and unjustified suspension of a number of reporters, including CNN’s Donie O’Sullivan, is concerning but not surprising. Twitter’s increasing instability and volatility should be of incredible concern for everyone who uses Twitter," the spokesperson said.

The New York Times reporter Ryan Mac and The Washington Post’s Drew Harwell also had their accounts suspended.

Journalists who cover Elon Musk have been suspended on Twitter tonight: @Donie O'Sullivan from CNN, Aaron Rupar and the Washington Post's @drewharwell.

Rupar tells me he has "no idea" why it happened.

— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) December 16, 2022