Senator Markey Asks Musk to Restore Accessibility Team

Author: Senator Edward J. Markey
Published: 27 Feb 2023 - Updated: 4 Nov 2026
Publication Type: Announcement

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This information reports on a February 2023 letter from U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey of Massachusetts asking Elon Musk to reinstate the accessibility team at Twitter, the platform now called X, after it was eliminated following his takeover. The letter said disabled users faced growing difficulty on the platform and listed losses such as automatic closed captions in Spaces. It set out eleven questions on captions, alt text, audio description, third-party apps and compliance with disability law. The article is a useful record for people with disabilities, advocates and technology workers following how social media companies handle accessibility.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Markey asked for answers by March 17, 2023.
• 2 - Markey is the author of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act.
• 3 - The letter asked whether the platform would remind all users to add alt text to images.
• 4 - In November 2022, Markey introduced the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act to update the CVAA.

Topic Definition

Digital Accessibility

Digital accessibility is the practice of designing websites, apps, social media platforms and digital content so that people with disabilities can perceive, understand, navigate and interact with them. It includes features such as captions and transcripts for audio and video, text descriptions for images, keyboard and screen reader support, and adjustable text and contrast, and it is guided by standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.

Overview

Markey's letter to Musk: "All of these changes under your leadership signal a disregard for the needs of disabled people."

In February 2023, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) called on Elon Musk, then Chief Executive Officer of Twitter (now X), to reinstate X's Accessibility Team and support the development and implementation of critical online features so that users with disabilities can fully access and utilize the social media platform. In his letter to the company, Senator Markey highlighted a variety of devastating changes under Musk's leadership for disabled X users, including X Spaces no longer offering automatic closed captions, which prevents users who are deaf or hard of hearing from engaging with Spaces.

"X has a responsibility to ensure that its platform is open and accessible to disabled users," wrote Senator Markey. "Yet, you recently eliminated X's Accessibility Team, which played a crucial role in developing and implementing essential features for X users with disabilities. Not surprisingly, since you shut down X's Accessibility Team, disabled users have reported increased difficulty and frustration using X. I urge you to immediately reinstate X's Accessibility Team and take all necessary steps to promote accessibility for disabled X users."

The Senator continued:

"All of these changes under your leadership signal a disregard for the needs of disabled people. Consequently, X users with disabilities are questioning their ability to continue to use the platform, and many have already left it entirely."

In the letter, Senator Markey requested X provide answers to the following questions by March 17, 2023:

• Please explain why you eliminated X's Accessibility Team.
• Will you commit to immediately restoring X's Accessibility Team? If not, why not?
• In November, before you eliminated X's Accessibility Team, it announced several upcoming projects, including improving both image description education and the closed caption button for users. What is the status of each of those projects?
• What resources is X devoting to the creation and maintenance of accessibility features for disabled individuals on the platform?
• Is X compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the accessibility regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under the Communications and Video Accessibility Act and other relevant laws?
• Please explain why X Spaces no longer includes automatic closed captioning features. Will X commit to reinstating automatic closed captioning for X Spaces? If not, why not?
• Will X allow third-party apps to provide accessibility services for users with disabilities? If not, why not?
• Will X commit to allowing automated accounts that increase accessibility on the platform without the need for providers to pay fees? If not, why not?
• Will X commit to changing its default settings to remind all users to include alt-text on all photos and images? If not, why not?
• Will X commit to creating user-friendly closed captioning tools for users when they upload videos? If not, why not?
• Will X commit to creating user-friendly audio description tools for users when they upload videos? If not, why not?

Senator Markey is the author of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), which mandates accessibility of devices and services for the millions of Americans with disabilities and enables the use of a wide range of devices and services needed in the digital era. In November 2022, Senator Markey introduced the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility (CVTA) Act, which updates and amends the CVAA to keep pace with the proliferation of emerging technologies that have come online since Senator Markey's 2010 bill was passed with bipartisan support. The new legislation would:

• 1) Strengthen standards for television programming and emergency communication.
• 2) Expand accessibility requirements, including closed captions and audio descriptions, to online platforms and video conferencing services.
• 3) Equip the federal government with the ability to improve accessibility of emerging technologies.

In November 2022, following Musk taking control of Twitter, Senator Markey called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and enforce X's privacy consent decree and to investigate the company's violation of any consumer protection laws. In the same month, after a Washington Post reporter obtained the X handle "@realedmarkey" with a purchased blue verification check, Senator Markey demanded accountability and highlighted that the company's lax verification practices undermine the ability for users to be critical consumers of news and information on the platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

What is alt text?

Alt text is a short written description of an image that screen readers read aloud, so people who are blind or have low vision can understand what the picture shows.

What is the CVAA?

The 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 is a U.S. law that requires many communication devices, services and online video programming to be accessible to people with disabilities.

What is audio description?

Audio description is narration added to video that describes important visual details, such as actions and scene changes, for people who are blind or have low vision.

Why do automatic captions matter on live audio?

Live audio rooms are otherwise closed to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Automatic captions let them follow and join conversations in real time.

What are WCAG guidelines?

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines are international standards from the World Wide Web Consortium that explain how to make web content accessible to people with disabilities.

How can I add alt text to social media posts?

Most major platforms offer an option to add a description when uploading an image, often labeled alt text or image description, in the post editor or settings.

Do social media companies have to follow the ADA?

Courts have reached different conclusions on whether websites and apps alone are covered by the ADA, but other laws such as the CVAA apply to some online video and communication features.

How can disabled users report accessibility problems?

Users can use a platform's help center or feedback tools, contact disability advocacy groups, and in some cases file complaints with regulators such as the FCC.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: Accessibility on social media depends on many small features, such as captions, image descriptions and support for third-party tools, and each one needs people inside the company who understand and defend it. When a dedicated team disappears, those features can quietly break or vanish, and disabled users are often the first to notice. The letter shows how lawmakers can use public pressure and existing law to hold platforms to account, and it is a reminder that people with disabilities should be part of the teams that build and test the tools millions rely on to communicate.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally issued as a press release by Senator Edward J. Markey and published on 27 Feb 2023. Last updated on 4 Nov 2026. This content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.