Tesla boss Elon Musk (51) wants to massively reduce the workforce on Twitter. Musk has informed potential investors that he plans to lay off nearly 75 percent of Twitter employees, according to the Washington Post. Twitter currently employs about 7,500 people. Musk wants to go back to just over 2000.
Elon Musk is currently in the process of buying Twitter. However, there were already numerous disputes about his offer to buy, which eventually ended up in court. Apparently, Twitter’s workforce will also decline if Musk doesn’t buy the company after all.
Staff cuts, even without Musk
Documents obtained by the Washington Post indicate that Twitter’s workforce is likely to be cut dramatically in the coming months. It doesn’t matter who owns the business.
The savings will likely have a significant impact on the business — and the user experience. Millions of users would feel this immediately. So says expert Edwin Chen, a data scientist who used to work for Twitter. He said that while he believed Twitter was overcrowded, the cuts Musk proposed were “unimaginable.”
Users are exposed to risks
It would also expose Twitter users to the risk of hacks and exposure to illegal material such as child pornography. He explains, “It would be a cascade effect.”
Musk is expected to acquire the company in the coming days for a purchase price of $44 million. (EU)