FBI paid Twitter $3.4 million to ban accounts for so-called misnfo

By Adam Andrzejewski for RealClearPolicy

Twitter was suspended or banned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for $3.4 Million. “foreign influence” “misinformation” On the social media platform.

Since the early 2000s, the FBI has been monitoring social media for speech and eventually paid Twitter for their work. The New York Post reported.

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The inner workings of Twitter and its cooperation with federal authorities have been coming out in tranches released by independent journalist Matt Taibbi — what have become known as the Twitter Files — since business magnate Elon Musk took over Twitter.

Taibbi has been tweeting, and The Post has been reporting screenshots from emails between FBI and Twitter staff. The FBI flagged particular accounts for possible violations. “civic misinformation policy violations,” “spam behaviors,” “platform manipulation,” “ban evasion,” Ask Twitter to ban or suspend users.

According to the files, Twitter had monthly meetings with the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. The Post reported.

After the 2016 election results, the FBI and other federal departments focused their attention on social media. Taibbi noted on Twitter, as the FBI’s social media task force grew to 80 agents and Department of Homeland Security worked with outside security contractors and think tanks “to pressure Twitter to moderate content.”

RELATED: Report: Informant Warned FBI That January 6 Was a ‘Big’ Threat Weeks BEFORE Capitol Riot, They Did Nothing

Taibbi explained that the FBI sent so many tweets to Twitter because it was so aggressive “possible violative content” It was a pleasant surprise to see and hear that an employee stated that the materials were for sale. “monumental undertaking” It required multiple employees to complete.

“Instead of chasing child sex predators or terrorists,” Taibbi tweeted “the FBI has agents — lots of them — analyzing and mass-flagging social media posts. Not as part of any criminal investigation, but as a permanent, end-in-itself surveillance operation. People should not be okay with this.”

Syndicated with permission by RealClearWire

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