The debate over free expression on social media today straddles politics, technology, and civil liberties. When Elon Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter on October 27–28, 2022, he declared his ambition to transform the platform into a global forum for candid discussion. One of his earliest and most controversial actions was restoring the account of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had been permanently banned in January 2021 following the Capitol riots.

In the 1850s, upon receiving the first telegraph messages, the flummoxed British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary, Lord Palmerston, famously exclaimed, "My God, this is the end of diplomacy!" His reaction reflected the skepticism and surprise that often accompany shifts in public diplomacy. As technology continues to evolve, it increasingly overshadows traditional forms of diplomacy, which are now often viewed as relics of the past.