Twitter Files: Part 7
twitter.com
twitter.com
- Contrary to the defense usually propounded so far, Twitter did feel coerced by the FBI. They felt there was imminent Congressional action coming if they did not comply with FBI requests.
https://twitter.com/ShellenbergerMD/status/16048884298162094...
- The FBI knew the Hunter laptop story was coming from the NY Post, knew it was a real story, that the laptop was legitimate, had no evidence of any hack, and manipulated Twitter into banning it anyway. Twitter also says that story was not even an actual "vio."
- Twitter was unable to find substantial evidence of foreign influence.
- Ex-FBI employees working for Twitter coordinated with the FBI without other Twitter employees present. They also had their own Slack channel.
- Twitter was paid 3.4 million for handling FBI requests, and the FBI frequently complained that Twitter was one of the least helpful companies.
Certainly regardless of the Hunter angle, it’s a clear 1A violation for the government to pressure private companies to censor. I would not consider any such story, no matter how trivial, to be a “nothing burger.” Can you elaborate on why you feel differently? The only real surprising part of these stories to me has been this response.
- https://www.techdirt.com/2022/12/20/no-the-fbi-is-not-paying...
- https://hellscape.substack.com/p/twitterfiles-is-becoming-a-...
Both of these authors are critical of and acknowledge problems within the FBI.
https://twitter.com/ShellenbergerMD/status/16048884298162094...
I don’t have time to read your second link, but the first one seriously misstates Shellenberger’s reporting.