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Elon Musk’s X Blocks Signal Links Amid Push for Government Efficiency

In a significant move targeting federal employees and government organizations, Elon Musk is implementing new restrictions via X, the platform previously known as Twitter. This initiative appears to align with his concept of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Recently, X has begun blocking links from Signal.me, a domain associated with the encrypted messaging service Signal, which is commonly used by federal workers to securely report sensitive information and concerns.

Users attempting to share Signal.me links through direct messages, public posts, or their profile pages encounter automated error messages stating, “This request looks like it might be automated. To protect our users from spam and other malicious activity, we can’t complete this action right now. Please try again later.” Additionally, users receive notifications such as, “We can’t complete this request because this link has been identified by X or our partners as being potentially harmful.” These findings were validated by a recent test conducted by Engadget.

When users try to access existing Signal.me links, they are greeted with a warning message indicating, “Warning: this link may be unsafe. The link you are trying to access has been identified by X or our partners as being potentially spammy or unsafe, in accordance with X’s URL Policy.” However, users have the option to bypass the warning and continue to the link.

Elon Musk’s initiatives regarding federal jobs extend beyond digital communication. He is collaborating with former President Donald Trump to implement broader cuts in government employment. Reports indicate that over 9,500 employees were let go in a significant layoff on February 14 alone. This aggressive action underscores a larger strategy focusing on reducing governmental overhead and re-evaluating the roles of federal workers.

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www.engadget.com