Banned influencers back in Twitterverse

A conspiracy theorist urging Americans to burn voting machines, an anti-Muslim activist, a retired general who called for a coup – Elon Musk’s Twitter has reinstated thousands of banned accounts.

Twitter has turned into a cesspool of misinformation, conspiracies and racial slurs amid reduced moderation in recent weeks following layoffs and an exodus of key staff, critics say.

Musk restored what one expert estimates are over 27,000 accounts.

Among those allowed back is former US president Donald Trump, who has so far resisted to return.

Others include anti-Muslim activist Pamela Geller and Mindy Robinson, a supporter of the QAnon movement whose first tweet included a pic of herself with a gun.

Also reinstated was former kickboxer Andrew Tate, who is notorious for his misogynistic remarks. After a heated Twitter exchange with environmentalist Greta Thunberg, Tate was recently arrested for alleged human trafficking and rape.

Conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell is back as well. He just called on his followers to “melt down the electronic voting machines and turn them into prison bars.”

”Restoring these accounts will make the platform a magnet for actors who want to spread misinformation,” said Jonathan Nagler of the New York University.