|comments Elon Musk plans to roll out a new £7 charge to sign up to the Twitter platform, it has been claimed. The money-making scheme would be one of the billionaire's most controversial changes to the social media platform since Musk took over in late 2022. Since the $4million purchase, Musk has culled more than 75 per cent of Twitter staff, many of whom worked for the team responsible for policing the type of content found on the site. The cull has been felt by users who report a surge in right-wing, extreme pornographic, and other types of illegal content on the site. Musk also loosened the rules about the type of content that could be shared. According to Fortune, which initially reported details of the fee, Musk told his staff that making users stump up the $8 fee (£7) is the "only way" to make the platform profitable. Sell-out ‘game changer’ grey eyebrow pencil now back in stock as shoppers snap it up Back in 2023, Musk ran an experiment in a number of regions in which new sign-ups were charged $1 (81p), though they claimed it was designed to prevent bots on the app rather than a money-making drive, according to Fortune. It comes after Musk's grand plan for X Premium fell short. He initially said the move was designed to reduce the platform's reliance on advertiser money, which means he would no longer be subjected to advertiser demands around content moderation. The Mirror has reached out to X for comment. It comes as she Government's counter-extremism unit is reportedly assessing the risk posed to Britain by tweets shared by Elon Musk in recent weeks, the Mirror understands. The tech billionaire has been using his platform X/Twitter to launch a barrage of attacks on the Labour government over the grooming gangs scandal. It comes as extremism experts warn that the toxicity of social media could once again trigger violence on our streets. The Mirror understands the Home Office has stepped up extra monitoring to assess content and the reach of what is being shared on social media site X, especially in relation to accounts with large followings - including Mr Musk's. The counterterrorism unit has been involved in content analysis and wider risk assessment. The unit sits within the Homeland Security Group, whose “mission is to reduce national security risks to the UK’s people, prosperity and freedoms”. “It focuses on the highest harm risks to the homeland, whether from terrorists, state actors, or cyber and economic criminals,” according to the official government website. A government source told the Mirror: “We keep a close eye on how disinformation and hate can proliferate, including online." It is understood monitoring has been ramped up following Mr Musk’s vile attacks on safeguarding minister Jess Phillips. Ms Phillips has admitted Mr Musk - a key aide to Donald Trump - was "endangering" her after labelling her a "rape genocide apologist" and calling for her to be jailed. She has reportedly had close protection officers assigned to her and has been advised not to go out in public alone following the increased threats to her safety. Top Stories