Nearly two years after extensive layoffs at X, formerly known as Twitter, the company is actively recruiting to rebuild its trust, safety, and cybersecurity teams. These moves come in response to the substantial workforce reductions that followed Elon Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of the platform in late 2022. Recent job postings indicate a renewed focus on strengthening the company’s content moderation and security capabilities.
Recent Job Listings Highlight New Focus
Over the past month, X has advertised around two dozen positions within its safety and cybersecurity teams. Roles available include Director of Strategic Response and Government Affairs Manager on the safety side, and several security engineer positions and a threat intelligence specialist for cybersecurity. This hiring effort represents a modest attempt to restore the teams significantly diminished since Musk’s acquisition.
Following the acquisition, X faced severe staff cuts, with reports indicating a reduction of 6,000 positions within six months, leaving the company with a workforce of about 1,500 employees by April 2023. The trust and safety teams, critical for managing content moderation, were particularly hard-hit.
Impact of Previous Layoffs
Before Musk’s takeover, X had a substantial trust and safety team of 279 engineers worldwide. However, by May 2023, this number had shrunk to 55. The company’s overall trust and safety team was reduced by almost a third, from 4,062 employees to 2,849. Additionally, the number of full-time content moderators dropped from 107 to 51, and contracted moderators were cut from 2,613 to 2,305.
These drastic reductions raised concerns about X’s ability to manage content effectively. With fewer resources dedicated to tackling misinformation and harmful content, the platform struggled to address complex moderation issues on a global scale.
Efforts to Rebuild and Expand
The new job openings signal X’s intention to address the staffing gaps. The company has announced plans to establish a new Trust and Safety center in Austin, Texas, which will accommodate 100 full-time moderators. Among the 24 new positions listed, nine are based in Austin, with others available in cities like New York, Palo Alto, and international locations such as Manila and Delhi.
Despite these efforts, details about the current size of X’s safety and cybersecurity teams remain unclear. When *TechCrunch* inquired about this, X’s press team replied with an automated message, providing no further information.
Leadership Changes and Challenges
X has also seen notable departures in its leadership team. Since Musk’s acquisition, Chief Cybersecurity Officer Lea Kissner and Trust and Safety Head Ella Irwin have both left the company. These changes, combined with earlier staff reductions, have intensified concerns about X’s capacity to handle security threats and content moderation challenges effectively.
The impact has been evident both locally and internationally. Recently, X was banned in Brazil after Musk refused to remove accounts spreading misinformation. The ban highlights the difficulties X faces in managing harmful content, especially given the significant reduction in its trust and safety teams.
Controversies and Misinformation Issues
Musk has faced criticism for his handling of content on the platform. He has been accused of contributing to the spread of misinformation, such as promoting a podcast episode featuring a guest accused of Holocaust denial. Additionally, Musk recently shared AI-generated images depicting someone resembling Vice President Kamala Harris in a controversial context, which sparked further criticism.
These issues, coupled with staffing cuts, have fueled doubts about X’s commitment to combating misinformation and managing content responsibly. Musk’s approach to moderation, including reinstating previously banned accounts and scaling back enforcement, has added to the scrutiny.
Cybersecurity Concerns and Technical Difficulties
X has also encountered cybersecurity challenges under Musk’s leadership. A recent technical glitch during an X Spaces event with former President Donald Trump led to a crash and delay. Musk attributed the problem to a supposed “massive [distributed denial-of-service] attack,” but did not provide evidence to support this claim.
The reduction in the company’s cybersecurity staff and leadership has likely exacerbated these challenges, leaving the platform more vulnerable to security threats.
