Twitter labels misleading or false tweets about important topics like COVID-19 and the election directly under their posts. While Twitter has rules against banning Trump outright, they have finally started fact checking his tweets. Now they’re using the strongest language yet to rebuff Trump’s lies about the election. Each of Trump’s false tweets about the election is coming with a disclaimer telling users that Joe Biden won the U.S. Presidential election.
Do you think he’ll stop talking about the outcome of the election now that Twitter’s correcting him at every chance he gives them? If today is any indication, the answer to that is no.
Updated Messaging
The lie of the year is that Joe Biden won! Christina Bobb @OANN
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2020
Trump often mentions the One America News Network, a propaganda network with little to no factual basis that props up Trump’s lies.
Previously, when encountering one of Trump’s election lies, Twitter simply stated that, “Official sources have called this election differently.” It was a more casual way to address Trump’s lies, by simply stating that “official sources,” presumably AP News, ABC News, NY Times, and other reputable sources of news, had called the election “differently.” Of course, there’s only one way to take that, but the language is still going easy on Trump. Their latest messaging doesn’t treat Trump’s fantasies so kindly.
Now, Twitter’s label reads, “Election officials have certified Joe Biden as the winner of the U.S. Presidential election.” This is their clearest messaging on the subject yet, as Trump’s delusions continue to spill out on their platform. They’re clearly stating the facts under each of Trump’s lies: Trump lost the election, Joe Biden won. Trump throwing a very public temper tantrum won’t change the will of the people.
Not Far Enough
Twitter is still treating posts about election fraud lightly though. Neither the president nor any of his associates have actually presented any evidence of fraud. They point to often blurry, older, doctored, or falsified videos as evidence, but, because court requires them to swear an oath to provide only honest testimony, have never submitted anything they “found” as evidence. There has been no proof of voter fraud. Twitter’s label still reads, “This claim about election fraud is disputed.” Clearly, claims about election fraud need the same treatment. Twitter needs to start calling an outright, intentional, lie what it is. A falsehood made to stir up a panic in the United States about our democratic process. It’s an attack at the heart of our democracy. By not taking action, Twitter is taking part in that attack.
On January 20th, 2021, Trump will no longer be the president of the United States. On that day, all of the special treatment he received from Twitter will evaporate. Twitter has confirmed that they will ban him for breaking their rules after that date, that his account will be treated like anyone else’s. Trump has been breaking rules about sharing false information regarding the election and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also has driven violence from his platform, including sharing a video that claimed, “The only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.” With his protections gone, Twitter will likely remove Trump before February.
I suppose then the only place that’ll have him will be Parler and the comparatively toxic Facebook, where he can continue to spread conspiracy theories and incite violence. Maybe his influence won’t last long there either. One can only hope.
Sources:
- Joe Fingas, Engadget
- Marcy Gordon, AP News
- Adi Robertson, The Verge
- Joshua Zitser, Business Insider