The sixth part of “Twitter Files,” published on Friday by Independent journalist Matt Taibbi, exposed how the FBI and other law enforcement agencies used Twitter as a “subsidiary,” with various accounts marked by the government organization for detrimental “misinformation” since January 2020.
Taibbi described the FBI-Twitter relationship as having a “master-canine quality,” with the government and the tech giant maintaining a “constant and pervasive” touch.
“Between January 2020 and November 2022, there were over 150 emails between the FBI and former Twitter Trust and Safety chief Yoel Roth,” Taibbi tweeted, pointing to the executives who worked towards suppressing the report prepared by The Post on the extensive overseas business of US President Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden.
Holding the tech giant’s reins
The writer also reported that Twitter received a “surprisingly high number” of FBI missives urging that “Twitter take action on election misinformation,” which included some jokes posted by accounts with fewer followers.
On November 22, an email was sent to Twitter from the FBI’s San Francisco office in which four accounts were highlighted as potentially violating Twitter’s Terms of Service.
Although conservatives have criticized Twitter for unfairly targeting them through enforcement proceedings, Taibbi claims that Twitter has also penalized left-wing accounts for controlling overzealous speech.
In one such case, the FBI identified a user with the handle “ULTRA MAGA” after he tweeted on November 8, the day of the midterm elections, writing, “Americans, Vote today. Democrats, please vote on Wednesday, September 9th.”
“Anyone who cannot discern obvious satire from reality has no place making decisions for others or working for the feds,” said the user, @ClaireFosterPHD while speaking to Taibbi about the flagging.
During the 2016 elections, the FBI’s social media-focused task force team grew to 80 agents, while outside security think tanks and contractors collaborated with the Department of Homeland Security “to pressure Twitter to moderate content,” Taibbi reported.
Twitter’s presence in FBI meetings
The sixth installment also discussed Twitter’s involvement at monthly meetings of the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, as well as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Justice Department.
A letter was written to Twitter’s former Deputy General Counsel Jim Baker on September 16, in which details of the meetings were shared by Twitter legal officer Stacia Cardille, who added indicated they were “soon to be weekly”.
According to Cardille’s letter, Twitter and the FBI had such a close connection that the agents were “adamant” that executives could access secret information.
The sixth installment also discussed Twitter’s involvement at monthly meetings of the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, as well as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Justice Department.
A letter was written to Twitter’s former Deputy General Counsel Jim Baker on September 16, in which details of the meetings were shared by Twitter legal officer Stacia Cardille, who added indicated they were “soon to be weekly”.
According to Cardille’s letter, Twitter and the FBI had such a close connection that the agents were “adamant” that executives could access secret information.
Taibbi’s report highlighted the flagging of similar content by state governments, DHS, and partner organizations such as the Center for Internet Security, which the journalist described as a “DHS contractor,” and Stanford University’s Election Integrity Project, which he described as “one of a series of government-affiliated think tanks that mass-review content.”
“Instead of chasing child sex predators or terrorists, the FBI has agents – lots of them — analyzing and mass-flagged social media posts,” Taibbi stated, summarising his tweets. Not as part of a criminal investigation, but as a continuous, stand-alone surveillance operation. This should not be acceptable.
