Vitalik Buterin Urges Elon Musk to "Cool Down" Amid H1B Visa Controversy
Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, called on Elon Musk to adopt a more measured approach in discussions about the H1B visa program. The appeal came in the wake of heated debates and accusations of censorship on the social media platform X.
Buterin’s comments followed Musk’s tweet defending the H1B visa, which enables US companies to hire foreign workers. In his tweet, Musk strongly defended the program, highlighting its importance to the success of companies like SpaceX and Tesla, and using aggressive language to criticize critics.
The tweet sparked significant backlash from conservatives, who argued that the program harms American workers. Tensions rose further when some accused Musk of using his platform to censor opposing views, alleging that X had removed premium features from accounts critical of Musk’s position, raising concerns over free speech.
In his response, Buterin acknowledged Musk's support for the free movement of people as a valid cause but cautioned against aggressive rhetoric and censorship. He emphasized that while censorship might appear effective short-term, it sets a dangerous precedent. Buterin warned that overusing such tools could shift the focus from reasoned debate to power, where "the winner will be the guy with the biggest hammer, not the best arguments." He also expressed concern over the growing polarization of public discourse, which could create long-lasting divisions.