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Twitter is a [[United States of America|Statesian]] microblogging and [[Bourgeois media|bourgeois social networking]] service managed by | [[File:Twitter logo.svg|thumb|220x220px|Logo until 2023]] | ||
'''Twitter''', rebranded to '''X''' since 2023,<ref name=":3">{{Web citation|author=Justin Horowitz|newspaper=MediaMatters|title=QAnon supporters, bigots, and white nationalists: Here are the far-right accounts Elon Musk is catering to following Twitter’s rebrand to X|date=2023-9-27|url=https://www.mediamatters.org/elon-musk/qanon-supporters-bigots-and-white-nationalists-here-are-far-right-accounts-elon-musk|retrieved=2023-12-2}}</ref> is a [[United States of America|Statesian]] microblogging and [[Bourgeois media|bourgeois social networking]] service managed by Twitter, Inc. and owned by billionaire [[Elon Musk]]. It has been used for censorship, psychological warfare, and promotion of pro-Western pro-[[Capitalism|capitalist]] [[Colour revolution|colour revolutions]].<ref>[https://www.mic.com/articles/10642/twitter-revolution-how-the-arab-spring-was-helped-by-social-media Twitter Revolution: How the Arab Spring Was Helped By Social Media]</ref> | |||
Twitter's own internal documents confirm that it promotes center-right neoliberal politicians and diminishes the voice of the left and far-left.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Ben Norton|date=2021-10-25|title=Twitter admits its algorithm promotes right-wing politicians and media outlets|url=https://benjaminnorton.substack.com/p/twitter-admits-its-algorithm-promotes|newspaper=Substack|archive-url=|archive-date=|retrieved=}}</ref> | Twitter's own internal documents confirm that it promotes center-right [[Neoliberalism|neoliberal]] politicians and diminishes the voice of the left and far-left.<ref>{{News citation|journalist=Ben Norton|date=2021-10-25|title=Twitter admits its algorithm promotes right-wing politicians and media outlets|url=https://benjaminnorton.substack.com/p/twitter-admits-its-algorithm-promotes|newspaper=Substack|archive-url=|archive-date=|retrieved=}}</ref> Its largest shareholder is [[The Vanguard Group, Inc.|Vanguard]] (10.37%) and among the largest include [[BlackRock, Inc.|BlackRock]] (4.70%).<ref>{{News citation|newspaper=CNN Business|title=Twitter Inc|url=https://money.cnn.com/quote/shareholders/shareholders.html?symb=TWTR&subView=institutional}}</ref> Since Musk bought the platform in October 2022, [[Antisemitism|anti-Semitism]], [[racism]],<ref>{{Web citation|author=Monica Moorehead, Shelley Ettinger|newspaper=[[Workers World]]|title=Forces behind the escalation of anti-Semitism|url=https://www.workers.org/2022/12/68083/|retrieved=2022-12-06}}</ref> [[sexism]], and [[transphobia]] have increased greatly.<ref name=":2">{{Web citation|author=Chris Garaffa|newspaper=[[Liberation News]]|title=What progressive people should know about the “Twitter Files”|date=2023-01-08|url=https://www.liberationnews.org/what-progressive-people-should-know-about-the-twitter-files/|retrieved=2023-01-09}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> | ||
== Censorship == | == Censorship == | ||
Since 2021, Twitter has been partnering with [[Reuters]] (which is [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|UK]] government-backed,<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/britain-secretly-funded-reuters-1960s-181152369.html Britain secretly funded Reuters in 1960s and 1970s - documents]</ref><ref>[https://thegrayzone.com/2021/02/20/reuters-bbc-uk-foreign-office-russian-media/ Reuters, BBC, and Bellingcat participated in covert UK Foreign Office-funded programs to “weaken Russia,” leaked docs reveal]</ref> [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-linked<ref>Reuters reporter [https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/authors/dawn-scalici/ Dawn Scalici, had previously served as a CIA agent for at least 33 years.]</ref>) in order to censor alternative views such as those who oppose the false narrative of Russiagate.<ref>[https://thegrayzone.com/2021/08/04/twitter-uk-cia-reuters-censorship/ Twitter partners with UK govt-backed, CIA-linked Reuters to censor alternative views]</ref><ref>[https://thegrayzone.com/2019/08/24/twitter-relying-on-us-european-gov-funded-regime-change-groups-to-crack-down-on-foreign-states/ Twitter relying on US/European gov-funded regime-change groups to crack down on foreign states] | Since 2021, Twitter has been partnering with [[Reuters]] (which is [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland|UK]] government-backed,<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/britain-secretly-funded-reuters-1960s-181152369.html Britain secretly funded Reuters in 1960s and 1970s - documents]</ref><ref>[https://thegrayzone.com/2021/02/20/reuters-bbc-uk-foreign-office-russian-media/ Reuters, BBC, and Bellingcat participated in covert UK Foreign Office-funded programs to “weaken Russia,” leaked docs reveal]</ref> [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-linked<ref>Reuters reporter [https://www.thomsonreuters.com/en-us/posts/authors/dawn-scalici/ Dawn Scalici, had previously served as a CIA agent for at least 33 years.]</ref>) in order to censor alternative views such as those who oppose the false narrative of [[Russiagate]].<ref>[https://thegrayzone.com/2021/08/04/twitter-uk-cia-reuters-censorship/ Twitter partners with UK govt-backed, CIA-linked Reuters to censor alternative views]</ref><ref>[https://thegrayzone.com/2019/08/24/twitter-relying-on-us-european-gov-funded-regime-change-groups-to-crack-down-on-foreign-states/ Twitter relying on US/European gov-funded regime-change groups to crack down on foreign states]</ref> | ||
== FBI connections == | Twitter labels state-funded media accounts from [[Russian Federation|Russia]] and [[People's Republic of China|China]] but not from the U.S., U.K., or [[French Republic|France]]. It claims it doesn't allow ads from state media accounts but published dozens of ads from [[Voice of America]], a state-funded U.S. propaganda outlet. These ads quoted speeches from [[Donald Trump]] and [[Mike Pompeo]] and called for regime change in [[Islamic Republic of Iran|Iran]].<ref name=":1">{{News citation|author=Ben Norton|newspaper=[[The Grayzone]]|title=Twitter spreads paid US gov’t propaganda while falsely claiming it bans state media ads|date=2020-08-10|url=https://thegrayzone.com/2020/08/10/twitter-us-state-media-ads-voa-persian/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220425034753/https://thegrayzone.com/2020/08/10/twitter-us-state-media-ads-voa-persian/|archive-date=2022-04-25|retrieved=2022-07-06}}</ref> | ||
=== Banned accounts === | |||
In 2020, Twitter banned 170,000 accounts that supported the [[Communist Party of China]] or supported China's response to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Thousands of accounts from Iran, [[Russian Federation|Russia]], [[Syrian Arab Republic|Syria]], and [[Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela|Venezuela]] have also been banned, including many non-government accounts.<ref name=":1" /> In 2021, Twitter deleted dozens of accounts for "undermining faith in the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] alliance."<ref name=":0">{{News citation|author=[[Alan Macleod]]|newspaper=[[Orinoco Tribune]]|title=The Federal Bureau of Tweets: Twitter is Hiring an Alarming Number of FBI Agents|date=2022-06-24|url=https://orinocotribune.com/the-federal-bureau-of-tweets-twitter-is-hiring-an-alarming-number-of-fbi-agents/|retrieved=2022-06-26}}</ref> | |||
== Imperialist connections == | |||
=== British government === | |||
[[Gordon MacMillan]], Twitter's top executive for Middle East-related content, works for the British military's psychological warfare unit. The British government openly calls his work "information warfare."<ref name=":1" /> | |||
=== FBI === | |||
Twitter's senior director of product trust, Matthew W., worked at the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] for 15 years. [[Douglas Turner]], who worked as a SWAT Team leader and senior special agent now works in Twitter's security service. Senior program manager Jeff Carlton worked for the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marines]], FBI, and CIA in [[Republic of Iraq|Iraq]] and [[Korea]]. Other FBI agents working for Twitter include Deputy General Counsel [[Jim Baker]], Senior Director of Strategy [[Dawn Burton]], Director of Corporate Security [[Mark Jaroszewski]], and Director of Corporate Resilience [[Karen Walsh]].<ref name=":0" /> | Twitter's senior director of product trust, Matthew W., worked at the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]] for 15 years. [[Douglas Turner]], who worked as a SWAT Team leader and senior special agent now works in Twitter's security service. Senior program manager Jeff Carlton worked for the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marines]], FBI, and CIA in [[Republic of Iraq|Iraq]] and [[Korea]]. Other FBI agents working for Twitter include Deputy General Counsel [[Jim Baker]], Senior Director of Strategy [[Dawn Burton]], Director of Corporate Security [[Mark Jaroszewski]], and Director of Corporate Resilience [[Karen Walsh]].<ref name=":0" /> | ||
=== CIA === | |||
[[Police]] use the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]]-funded Dataminr company to track protests through a feed of Twitter posts.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
=== NSA === | |||
Twitter participates in the [[National Security Agency|NSA]]'s PRISM program, giving the NSA nearly unlimited access to communications and account information.<ref name=":2" /> | |||
== Alternatives == | == Alternatives == | ||
In response to pro-imperialist censorship, [[alternative social media platforms]] become increasingly popular.<ref>https://alternativeto.net/software/twitter/</ref> | In response to pro-imperialist censorship, [[alternative social media platforms]] become increasingly popular.<ref>https://alternativeto.net/software/twitter/</ref> [[Mastodon]] is a [[Free and open-source software|FOSS]] alternative to Twitter. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
Latest revision as of 16:36, 2 December 2023
Twitter, rebranded to X since 2023,[1] is a Statesian microblogging and bourgeois social networking service managed by Twitter, Inc. and owned by billionaire Elon Musk. It has been used for censorship, psychological warfare, and promotion of pro-Western pro-capitalist colour revolutions.[2]
Twitter's own internal documents confirm that it promotes center-right neoliberal politicians and diminishes the voice of the left and far-left.[3] Its largest shareholder is Vanguard (10.37%) and among the largest include BlackRock (4.70%).[4] Since Musk bought the platform in October 2022, anti-Semitism, racism,[5] sexism, and transphobia have increased greatly.[6][1]
Censorship[edit | edit source]
Since 2021, Twitter has been partnering with Reuters (which is UK government-backed,[7][8] CIA-linked[9]) in order to censor alternative views such as those who oppose the false narrative of Russiagate.[10][11]
Twitter labels state-funded media accounts from Russia and China but not from the U.S., U.K., or France. It claims it doesn't allow ads from state media accounts but published dozens of ads from Voice of America, a state-funded U.S. propaganda outlet. These ads quoted speeches from Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo and called for regime change in Iran.[12]
Banned accounts[edit | edit source]
In 2020, Twitter banned 170,000 accounts that supported the Communist Party of China or supported China's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of accounts from Iran, Russia, Syria, and Venezuela have also been banned, including many non-government accounts.[12] In 2021, Twitter deleted dozens of accounts for "undermining faith in the NATO alliance."[13]
Imperialist connections[edit | edit source]
British government[edit | edit source]
Gordon MacMillan, Twitter's top executive for Middle East-related content, works for the British military's psychological warfare unit. The British government openly calls his work "information warfare."[12]
FBI[edit | edit source]
Twitter's senior director of product trust, Matthew W., worked at the FBI for 15 years. Douglas Turner, who worked as a SWAT Team leader and senior special agent now works in Twitter's security service. Senior program manager Jeff Carlton worked for the U.S. Marines, FBI, and CIA in Iraq and Korea. Other FBI agents working for Twitter include Deputy General Counsel Jim Baker, Senior Director of Strategy Dawn Burton, Director of Corporate Security Mark Jaroszewski, and Director of Corporate Resilience Karen Walsh.[13]
CIA[edit | edit source]
Police use the CIA-funded Dataminr company to track protests through a feed of Twitter posts.[6]
NSA[edit | edit source]
Twitter participates in the NSA's PRISM program, giving the NSA nearly unlimited access to communications and account information.[6]
Alternatives[edit | edit source]
In response to pro-imperialist censorship, alternative social media platforms become increasingly popular.[14] Mastodon is a FOSS alternative to Twitter.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Justin Horowitz (2023-9-27). "QAnon supporters, bigots, and white nationalists: Here are the far-right accounts Elon Musk is catering to following Twitter’s rebrand to X" MediaMatters. Retrieved 2023-12-2.
- ↑ Twitter Revolution: How the Arab Spring Was Helped By Social Media
- ↑ Ben Norton (2021-10-25). "Twitter admits its algorithm promotes right-wing politicians and media outlets" Substack.
- ↑ "Twitter Inc". CNN Business.
- ↑ Monica Moorehead, Shelley Ettinger. "Forces behind the escalation of anti-Semitism" Workers World. Retrieved 2022-12-06.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Chris Garaffa (2023-01-08). "What progressive people should know about the “Twitter Files”" Liberation News. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
- ↑ Britain secretly funded Reuters in 1960s and 1970s - documents
- ↑ Reuters, BBC, and Bellingcat participated in covert UK Foreign Office-funded programs to “weaken Russia,” leaked docs reveal
- ↑ Reuters reporter Dawn Scalici, had previously served as a CIA agent for at least 33 years.
- ↑ Twitter partners with UK govt-backed, CIA-linked Reuters to censor alternative views
- ↑ Twitter relying on US/European gov-funded regime-change groups to crack down on foreign states
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Ben Norton (2020-08-10). "Twitter spreads paid US gov’t propaganda while falsely claiming it bans state media ads" The Grayzone. Archived from the original on 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Alan Macleod (2022-06-24). "The Federal Bureau of Tweets: Twitter is Hiring an Alarming Number of FBI Agents" Orinoco Tribune. Retrieved 2022-06-26.
- ↑ https://alternativeto.net/software/twitter/