Twittergate

Twittergate is the gift which keeps on giving, as the files’ divulgement continues. Now there is proof of what every Twitter user observed anecdotally. Everyone saw that Twitter employed double standards in what accounts and information it would suppress, and now we have the internal documentation to corroborate this universal observation.

What amounts to an added bonus is that all these revelations pre-empt those Libertarians who used to screech, “Private companies can do whatever they want!” Here we have a private company doing whatever it wants… except that Twitter under new ownership is actually advancing the cause of free expression rather than suppressing it.

A plain fact which eludes some of these free-market purists is that campaign finance law exists for transparency, which we all support. If a social media behemoth like Twitter – exerting inordinate influence even in traditional journalism -- actively suppresses information harmful to one candidate in an election – then it has contributed in kind to that candidate. In the specific case of Twitter banning any hint of discussion about Hunter Biden’s laptop – which authorities now confirm contained indicators of substantial wrongdoing on the part of Joe and Hunter Biden – this amounts to a multi-million dollar donation to Joe Biden’s campaign, which has gone unreported. Twitter therefore blocked voters from crucial information on which to base their decision at election.

There are also the issues of perjury and deputization to address. On September 5th, 2018, then Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey testified under oath before Congress, saying that Twitter suppressed no posts based on ideology. Twittergate has revealed this as a knowing misrepresentation, which constitutes perjury. Additionally there are revelations that many of these post/account suppressions were effected at government's direct request, so we see that Twitter was acting under deputization by government.

In summary, let’s remember the fundamentals of who we are and what we espouse. Just as we say that it hardly matters whether the boot stomping your face is on the left or right foot, it hardly matters whether its wearer is employed by the public or private sector. The Libertarian Party is the ONLY party which values consent, but consent obtained by fraud is never valid. Private businesses – no less than government itself – which commit fraud and break the rules should be held fully accountable, both to their customers and anyone directly harmed by their practices.

Published on December 11th by Daniel Donnelly, Representative in Amenia.