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On Tuesday afternoon, Twitter took action and suspended the accounts of Aaron Greenspan and his platform PlainSite. Aaron Greenspan is a well-known critic of Tesla and Elon Musk, and PlainSite serves as an online database that provides free access to state and federal court filings, as well as other public records. Additionally, the website offers analytics features to subscribers, specifically designed to assist lawyers and pro-se litigants in obtaining valuable insights about attorneys, judges, government offices, and the law.
Over the years, Greenspan has diligently monitored and documented legal disputes involving various companies primarily based in the United States. This includes well-known entities such as Tesla, Twitter (which Musk acquired and made private last year), as well as competitors like GM, Meta, and numerous others. Both Greenspan and Musk have also been engaged in legal battles with each other throughout this period.
At the moment when PlainSite’s Twitter account was suspended, it had amassed an impressive following of over 24,000 listed followers. Additionally, Aaron Greenspan’s personal account had around 2,500 followers. Interestingly, this suspension contradicts the public statements made by Elon Musk, Twitter’s executive chairman and CTO, as well as the newly appointed CEO Linda Yaccarino. It is noteworthy to mention that Yaccarino previously held the position of global advertising chief at NBCUniversal, which is the parent company of CNBC.
In April 2022, following Musk’s announcement of his plans to acquire Twitter, he took to Twitter and expressed his desire for even his harshest critics to continue using the platform, emphasizing the importance of preserving free speech. In a tweet, he stated, “I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter because that is what free speech means.”
In a more recent company-wide memo, Yaccarino highlighted the significance of an unfiltered exchange of information and open dialogue within a thriving society. She emphasized the value of individuals being able to freely express their thoughts and opinions, stating that everyone should have the freedom to speak their mind. Yaccarino’s memo underscored the importance of fostering an environment where open and meaningful discussions about the things that deeply concern us can take place.
During an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Greenspan revealed that he has not yet been informed by Twitter about the specific reasons behind the suspension of his accounts. Despite this, he has made a formal request for the reinstatement of both accounts. Furthermore, Greenspan delved into the motivations behind the inception of PlainSite, his “legal transparency initiative.” He discussed the factors that led to him being viewed as a prominent critic of Elon Musk, often referred to as Musk’s nemesis.
Reflecting on the origins of PlainSite, Greenspan shared that he co-founded the platform with two friends back in 2011. Their motivation stemmed from a sense of curiosity about why the Occupy Wall Street movement didn’t yield the anticipated impact. They observed that despite clear indications of criminal misconduct related to the 2008 financial crisis, no financial executives were held accountable. One contributing factor, they believed, was a lack of understanding among the general public regarding the intricacies of the law and the loopholes that allowed banks and executives to evade responsibility. Hence, the creation of PlainSite aimed to bridge this knowledge gap and shed light on the legal framework, enabling greater transparency and potentially holding individuals accountable for their actions.
Throughout his years of research and writing on PlainSite, Greenspan has actively engaged in shorting stocks of certain companies that he has extensively studied. He has consistently disclosed his positions in these stocks during the time he held them. While he clarified that he is not currently shorting Tesla, he did mention that he had done so in the past.
In May 2020, Greenspan filed a lawsuit against a Tesla promoter, citing allegations of harassment. In the lawsuit, he also named Musk as a contributing party to the reported harassment. However, in February 2023, the situation took a turn when Musk countersued Greenspan. Musk’s lawsuit was in response to the publication of their correspondence on both Twitter and PlainSite by Greenspan. It is worth noting that the emails in question are still accessible on the PlainSite platform.
