Mark Cuban criticizes X, says 'free speech is only as free as Elon Musk wants it to be'

Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and star of 'Shark Tank', has taken aim at Elon Musk's management of X (formerly Twitter), arguing that the platform isn't as committed to free speech as Musk claims. 

In a recent post on X, Cuban voiced his concerns, stating, "I know everyone thinks this platform is a bastion of free speech. I see the opposite." 

Cuban's critique came during a conversation with professional gambler Haralabos Voulgaris, where he suggested that Musk's control over X is far more extensive than many users realize.

"It's only as free as Elon wants it to be. He can intimidate, alter the algorithm, and suspend anyone he wants at any time," Cuban wrote, adding that Musk is "the ultimate arbiter of everything on here."

This isn't the first time Cuban has criticized Musk's handling of X. In a recent interview on 'The Daily Show', Cuban implied that Musk might be manipulating the platform's algorithm to reflect his own preferences, a claim Musk later denied. 

Despite these criticisms, Cuban continues to use X, engaging in what he describes as "fun sparring" with Musk.

Musk, who purchased Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X in 2023, has long touted the platform as a haven for free speech. 

However, Cuban's comments highlight growing concerns about the extent of Musk's influence on the platform's content and user experience.