X (formerly Twitter) is making efforts to reinforce its trust, safety, and security teams ahead of the upcoming elections. This move comes after CEO Elon Musk dissolved the platform’s oversight council nearly two years ago, sparking controversy. However, the company is now actively hiring new staff to enhance its safety and cybersecurity measures.
According to a report by TechCrunch, X has opened up two dozen new positions across the United States. These roles include a director of strategic response, government affairs managers, security engineers, and a threat intelligence specialist. The goal is to strengthen the existing teams and provide additional support to the skeleton staff.
This recent hiring spree follows years of Musk scaling back on X’s safety investments. In 2022, shortly after Musk acquired the platform, around 80 percent of its trust and safety engineers were fired, as reported by Australia’s online safety commissioner. At the time of the analysis, X had only 55 engineers dedicated to global trust and safety operations, and the overall team had been significantly reduced.
The continuous staff cuts, along with Musk’s statements about promoting “free speech” and limited content moderation, have raised concerns about the platform’s commitment to safety. Many have questioned Musk’s investment and prioritization of platform safety.
The timing of these new hires is crucial for X, as the company is facing uncertain revenue prospects for 2025, according to a report in The Guardian. This adds further urgency to the need to strengthen the trust, safety, and security teams to ensure a secure and trustworthy platform for users.
The decision to invest in these positions is a positive step towards addressing the concerns surrounding X’s safety measures. By expanding the teams responsible for content moderation, strategic response, and security, the company can better handle the challenges associated with user safety, cybersecurity, and the spread of misinformation.
Additionally, these new hires align with the company’s earlier plans to build a “Trust and Safety center of excellence” in Austin, TX. The goal is to establish a dedicated team of 100 employees focused on content moderation. This initiative demonstrates X’s commitment to taking proactive measures to tackle the issues plaguing the platform.
While the recent hiring announcements indicate progress, the modest number of staff additions raises questions about the scale of the operation. It remains to be seen whether these new hires will be sufficient to address the growing challenges faced by X, especially during the upcoming elections.
To ensure transparency and accountability, X should provide regular updates on the progress of its trust, safety, and security initiatives. Sharing insights, statistics, and case studies on the effectiveness of these measures will help build trust among users and stakeholders.
In conclusion, X’s decision to invest in its trust, safety, and security teams is a step in the right direction. By expanding its staff and focusing on content moderation, strategic response, and security measures, the company aims to create a safer and more secure platform. However, the success of these efforts will ultimately depend on the effectiveness and scalability of the new teams. Regular updates and transparency will be key in building trust and ensuring a safe environment for X users.
