Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter turned the tables on Big Tech. Although it was an interesting ride, Musk has done more to bring down the curtain on a social media giant than any other CEO. “Twitter Files.”
The Twitter Files of Musk went viral in December. Each installment covers what happened behind-the scenes at the company’s most scandalous actions. A rotating group of journalists and writers reported on the Twitter Files, which had unprecedented access to Twitter’s internal archives.
These are some of the most important takeaways that we have gleaned from 15 installments so far.
Twitter Files 1 – Suppression by Hunter Biden Laptop Story
Matt Taibbi from Substack went viral. His first article, which focused on Twitter internal discussions that eventually led to the censorship of the content, was published in March. Hunter Biden laptop storyDuring the 2020 presidential election some officials struggled to explain why it was violating its constitution “hacked materials” policies.
One of the most shocking revelations from Twitter Files 1 is that Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) reached out to Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s former head for legal, policy, and trust, about the “backlash re speech”Twitter’s failure to adhere to these guidelines “1st Amendment principles.”Taibbi observed that Khanna was a very important concept. “was the only Democratic official I could find in the files who expressed concern.”
TWITTER EXPLODE 2022: ELON MUSK ELON MUSK’S WILD RIDE SINCE BUYING A SOCIAL MEDIA GIANT
Later, it was revealed that the initial batch of “Twitter Files”Jim Baker, the Twitter deputy general counsel who was previously the FBI’s chief counsel, vetted the tweet without Musk knowing. Baker was also involved in the Russia investigation. Musk quickly fired Baker.
Baker was overheard by Taibbi reporting on the suppression of Hunter Biden’s story and told his colleagues. “I support the conclusion that we need more facts to assess whether the materials were hacked”But there was more “it’s reasonable for us to assume that they may have been and that caution is warranted.”
Taibbi also reported the initial report. “Although several sources recalled hearing about a ‘general’ warning from federal law enforcement that summer about possible foreign hacks, there’s no evidence – that I’ve seen – of any government involvement in the laptop story.”Baker may have been involved in the screening of the applicants. “Twitter Files”Taibbi’s conclusion was reached and Baker left out files which would have revealed the Federal Government intervening in the suppression of Hunter Biden’s laptop story on Twitter.
Twitter Files 2 – The existence and dangers of shadowbanning
Twitter executives have rejected conservative claims that they were being “censored” for many years. “shaddowbanned,”This is how Twitter users are often described.
This was confirmed by the second installment of Twitter Files. Bari Weiss (Free Press editor) revealed that Twitter has been using “Twitter’s” “blacklisting”Many prominent conservatives including Fox News host Dan Bongino; Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk; and Stanford University’s Dr. Jay Bhattacharya. These are long-standing opponents of COVID groupthink that was prevalent during the pandemic. They also oppose lockdowns.
Internal communications reveal that Twitter staffers also admitted that the account Libs of TikTok, a popular right-wing account, had not violated it “hateful conduct”Policy, despite the fact that they have been punished multiple times for doing so.
These revelations seem to be contrary to what the former CEO of Twitter said. Jack DorseyIn 2018, Congress was oath-tested by the testimony of a witness who testified that Twitter didn’t censor nor shadowban conservatives.
Twitter Files: 3-5 Permanent Suspendement of a Currently Serving President
Twitter Files 3-4 and 5 focused on Trump’s suspension from office in the Capitol Riot of January 2021.
Taibbi described how Twitter distributed election-related tweets by various users in the lead up to 2020 elections that were “flagged”According to the FBI, this is problematic.
RO KHANNA DEMOCRATIC REP. SHARED CONCERNS ABOUT THE TWITTER CENSORSHIP OF HUNTER BIDEN STORY
Michael Shellenberger (an independent journalist) revealed that Dorsey was calling it in because he was going on vacation. While his deputy’s were working to deplatform Trump. Yoel, Twitter’s former head of safety and trust, was leading efforts to restrict other users who are tweeting about the 2020 election. In the weeks before the election, it was discovered that Roth had been meeting weekly with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security as well as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Weiss spoke out about the pressure Twitter management faced from employees calling for Trump’s suspension permanent. However, the Free Press editor revealed that several Twitter staffers responsible for enforcing policies didn’t believe Trump’s Jan. 6 tweets were in violation of its rules.
Vijaya Gadde (then-Twitter’s legal head) asked Trump if his tweets could possibly be. “coded incitement to further violence.”The “so-called” remark was made a few seconds later. “scaled enforcement team”It was suggested that, based on Trump’s tweet interpretations by Twitter it might violate violence incitement laws.
Twitter Files 6 by The FBI ‘subsidiary’The tech giant
The sixth part of this article “Twitter Files”Twitter’s close connections to the FBI were highlighted. Taibbi said that law enforcement agencies were acting like an a. “subsidiary”of tech giant, it revealed communications showing that FBI agents systemically flagged Twitter accounts for tweets that contained offensive language “possible violative content”This is information pertaining to 2020 elections.
Emails indicate that Elvis Chan, a special agent of the FBI, kept in regular contact with Twitter to discuss tweets they wanted removed.
As a response to “Twitter Files,”Fox News Digital was informed by a spokesperson from the FBI “The FBI regularly engages with private sector entities to provide information specific to identified foreign malign influence actors’ subversive, undeclared, covert, or criminal activities. Private sector entities independently make decisions about what, if any, action they take on their platforms and for their customers after the FBI has notified them.”
The FBI routinely contacted Twitter users about whether they would be punished for their tweets. This raises serious concerns regarding potential First Amendment violations.
Twitter Files 7 – The FBI ‘influence campaign’Hunter Biden scandal to be censored
Shellenberger presented part seven of Twitter’s cooperation with FBI. This included the FBI’s requests that Twitter share its sensitive data, which were refused by Twitter, as well as repeated questions from the FBI about whether Twitter had seen any foreign activity prior to 2020. Twitter claimed it didn’t. Twitter was notified by the FBI of ten documents it received via the secure Teleport channel on October 13, 2020. This happened just one day prior to the New York Post’s Hunter Biden report that was soon censored.
An email dated February 20,21 revealed that Twitter was paid over $3.4million by the FBI since October 2019, as part their partnership. This shows how Twitter’s policies to seek reimbursements in the event of information being produced for a legal proceeding.
JACK DORSEY TELLS ELON MUSSK ‘IMPORTANT’TWITTER’S FILES WERE ‘HIDDEN’BOSSES SUGGESTS SOME WERE ‘DELETED’
Yoel Roth (at the time, Twitter’s head of safety and trust) had participated in what was called “the” “Hack-and-Dump Working Group”The Aspen Institute collaborated with Hunter Biden to create a simulation of how Big Tech and the media should deal with something like the Hunter Biden notebook.
Fox News reported that the FBI was not feigned amid critics and made a statement to Fox News. “The correspondence between the FBI and Twitter show nothing more than examples of our traditional, longstanding and ongoing federal government and private sector engagements, which involve numerous companies over multiple sectors and industries. As evidenced in the correspondence, the FBI provides critical information to the private sector in an effort to allow them to protect themselves and their customers… It is unfortunate that conspiracy theorists and others are feeding the American public misinformation with the sole purpose of attempting to discredit the agency.”
Twitter Files 9-9: Supporting the U.S. Army and ‘OGAs’
Lee Fang (Intercept Investigative Reporter) exposed Twitter’s aid in Pentagon’s foreign-influencing campaigns. The military was able to use covert accounts overseas to send propaganda despite being against Twitter’s policies.
Taibbi also reported on the 9th installment of Twitter’s continuous interactions with “OGAs”(Other Government Agencies) – The CIA included.
Twitter Files 10, The White House’s Crackdown on COVID ‘misinformation’
David Zweig wrote the 10th batch of Twitter files. It was focused on COVID as well as Twitter’s efforts in enforcing its “social media law.” “misinformation”Policy and reporting “both the Trump and Biden administrations directly pressed Twitter executives to moderate the platform’s pandemic content according to their wishes.”
Citing Twitter “meeting notes”Trump’s administration has named Michael Kratsios as the former Chief Technology Officer of White House. “led the Trump administration’s calls for help from the tech companies to combat misinformation.”
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“Areas of focus included conspiracies around 5G cell towers, runs on grocery stores, and misinformation that could stoke panic buying and behaviors,”According to Zweig, the memo was read.
This memo showed that Microsoft, Google and Facebook were also involved. “weekly”Calls with Trump Administration to Discuss “general trends”These were taking place on their platforms.
Zweig highlighted another memo written by Lauren Culbertson, Twitter’s Head of U.S. Public Policy, who claimed the Biden team was “very angry”Twitter is not responding to concerns “de-platform”Different accounts are based upon meetings with President Obama.
Twitter files 11 ‘PR crisis’Following the 2016 elections
Elon Musk’s eleventh installment. “Twitter Files,”Matt Taibbi, Substack’s writer, reported on the “PR crisis”Twitter went through a major transformation in 2017, when Democrats hammered the tech giant over its inaction in investigating Russian influence. Facebook had made it public by removing suspicious foreign accounts after the 2016 election. Taibbi concluded this was what prompted Twitter to accept the intelligence community.
Twitter was launched amid pressure “Russia Task Force”To determine if the Kremlin held such a stronghold on the platform after suspending several accounts that were suspected to be Russia-linked,
JIM BAKER OUSTED TWITTER LAWYER & EXFBI OFFICIAL INVOLVED in RUSSIAGATE. HE WAS A CNN ANALYST BETWEEN JOBS
Taibbi pointed out the disparity between Twitter’s. “external”Policy, that was to remove content “in our soul discretion,”While its “internal guidance”Please read this “any user identified by the U.S. intelligence community as a state-sponsored entity conducting cyber operations against targets associated with U.S. or other elections… shall not be allowed to advertise on Twitter.”
“We will not be reverting to the status quo,”Colin Crowell was then the Vice President of Public Policy for Twitter. He told his fellow Twitter employees at that time.
Twitter Files 12; Rep. Adam Schiff’s Office Targets Accounts
In the 12th installment, the Twitter Files revealed that Rep. Adam Schiff’s office, D-Calif., asked Twitter to ban accounts that were causing attention to him and his staff, including Paul Sperry.
Later in the Twitter Files “supplemental,”Taibbi said that Schiff’s office was in his possession “quite often”A visual parody of Biden was also requested to be deleted from the tweet.
This batch of Twitter Files was dominated by eagerness to receive information from the State Department’s Global Engagement Center, (GEC), Taibbi said as “a lot of it.” “fledgling analytic/intelligence”Twitter invited arm to join its moderation team. The company also discussed how Twitter used media to fight with them, beginning in February 2020 when the coronavirus epidemic was underway.
Twitter Files 13 – A member of the Pfizer Board flags tweets questioning the COVID vaccine
Alex Berenson, Substack writer, and vocal COVID policy contrarian, made his Twitter Files debut. He reported that Dr. Scott Gottlieb (a former FDA Commissioner and current board member Pfizer) used Twitter to clamp down on doubts about the effectiveness of vaccines, such as one from the Trump administration, Dr. Brett Giroir.
Berenson reported that Gottlieb had also attacked him before he was suspended permanently from Twitter. (Berenson was reinstated after a court battle with the tech company in July 2022).
Gottlieb ridicules the “selective disclosure of my private communications with Twitter”In reaction to Berenson’s Twitter Files appearance.
Twitter Files 14 – Top Democrats plied false ‘Russian bots’Narrative despite warnings
Taibbi slammed top Democrats like California Rep. Adam Schiff, California Sen. Dianne Weinstein, and Connecticutt Senator Richard Blumenthal for promoting a false narrative. “Russian bots”They promoted Devin Nunes’ memo which undermined Russian collusion investigation, and it trended on Twitter despite having been told by Twitter executives not to.
Several media outlets, including AP and Politico as well as NBC News, Rolling Stone and NBC News, promoted the claim, but provided no evidence.
Twitter Files 15, BioNTech Lobbies to Censor Activists Calling for Low-Cost Generic Vaccines
BioNTech is Pfizer’s biotechnology partner. They helped to develop a COVID vaccination. Lee Fang from The Intercept reports that Twitter has not fulfilled its demands.
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