On Tuesday, the latest installment of the Twitter Files was released by journalist Matt Taibbi, revealing how government agencies have been assisting Twitter in suppressing their opposition by banning individuals. Taibbi uncovered a request submitted by Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff to Twitter, asking them to ban investigative journalist Paul Sperry. According to Taibbi’s report, Twitter was receiving requests “from all over”, including Treasury, the National Security Agency (NSA), various state departments and organizations, along with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Moreover, what was even more concerning was the variety of requests coming in from government officials looking to have individuals they didn’t like banned from the platform. This included Rep. Schiff’s request for Sperry to be banned from Twitter.
In an interview discussing his findings, Taibbi elaborated on these requests and how widespread they had become. He stated that “They also received an astonishing variety of requests from officials asking for individuals they didn’t like to be banned, ranging from Treasury, the NSA and virtually every state department and organization; HHS; FBI; DHS; etcetera.”
BREAKING: Elon Musk exposes Adam Schiff for telling Twitter to ban investigative journalist Paul Sperry.
Looks like the only person colluding all these years was Adam Schiff.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 3, 2023
Hey @RepAdamSchiff, what’s this?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 3, 2023
28.“WE DON’T DO THIS” Even Twitter declined to honor Schiff’s request at the time. Sperry was later suspended, however. pic.twitter.com/9PX2Zw5Nzj
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) January 3, 2023
It is concerning that government agencies have been working so closely with a social media platform to censor those who are seen as being critical or opposed to their beliefs. It sets a dangerous precedent for how free speech can be stifled in this day and age if governments deem it necessary. With reporters such as Matt Taibbi continuing their investigations in order to expose this kind of activity, it is now up to us to stand up against these injustices and ensure our fundamental rights remain intact.
On Tuesday, Musk also took a shot at Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren after she wrote a letter to Tesla’s board asking if investors have been “harmed” by Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. In response, Musk tweeted: “The United States has definitely been harmed by having her as a senator lol.”
The United States has definitely been harmed by having her as a senator lol
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2022
This came after Musk engaged in a Twitter exchange with Representative Adam Schiff in late December, in which Musk called Schiff’s brain “too small.” The comment from Musk came in response to a tweet from Schiff which read: “Elon Musk calls himself a free speech absolutist, to justify turning a blind eye to hatred and bigotry on Twitter. But when journalists report unfavorable news, they are banned without warning. The devotion to free speech is apparently not that absolute. But the hypocrisy is.”