Twitter files exposed an 'extensive system' of coordinated government censorship: Jonathan Turley
Fox News contributor Jonathan Turley explained how the government used social media companies like Facebook and Twitter to carry out censorship targets on 'America Reports.'
Elon Musk weighed in after complaints swirled over the lock on Montana Sen. Steve Daines', R., Twitter account Tuesday, telling a Republican user who called out the suspension that the problem is being resolved.
"This is being fixed," Musk said, responding to Travis County, Texas GOP Chairman Matt Mackowiak, who shared a report from The Hill discussing the lock with the caption, "U.S. Senator suspended from @twitter due to cover photo showing his wife and him hunting. This is insane."
"Policy against showing blood in profile pic is being amended to ‘clearly showing blood without clicking on the profile pic’. The intent is to avoid people being forced to see gruesome profile pics," Musk explained.
SEN. DAINES RESPONDS AFTER TWITTER SUSPENDS HIS ACCOUNT FOR HUNTING PHOTO: ’MY WIFE IS A GREAT SHOT'
Tesla and SpaceX Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk speaks at the SATELLITE Conference and Exhibition in Washington, Monday, March 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
The photo Daines used for his profile picture featured his wife and himself posing with her latest kill – a Montana antelope – and, along with it, a mild display of blood that triggered the lockdown.
Daines' account was locked Monday night, according to his communications director Rachel Dumke, who tweeted, "@SteveDaines’ twitter account was locked last night for displaying "graphic violence" in his profile picture. Because going hunting with your wife is apparently against @Twitter rules now. What a joke," along with photos of the suspension notification on a cellphone and the photo that created such a stir.
TWITTER LOCKS ‘LIBS OF TIKTOK’ ACCOUNT FOR ‘HATEFUL CONDUCT’: REPORT
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont, was locked out of his Twitter account Monday after adding a profile picture from his hunt. The photo led the platform to lock Daines' account for an alleged ‘graphic violence’ violation for containing blood. (@RachelDumke9/Twitter)
The censorship stemmed from an alleged violation of Twitter's "graphic violence" media policy.
Though the ban raised larger conversations about ongoing concerns of Big Tech censorship, Musk's direct response follows precedent that he would take a more hands-on approach to complaints circulating on the platform.
The complaint also coincides with concerns that the platform historically censored conservative voices, including former President Donald Trump, whose lifetime ban from Twitter was lifted under Musk's leadership.
TWITTER LOCKS SEN. STEVE DAINES' ACCOUNT FOR ‘GRAPHIC VIOLENCE’ OVER HUNTING PHOTO
Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., questions Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee hearing titled The Financial Stability Oversight Council Annual Report to Congress, in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. (Photo by Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images)
"This is insane. Twitter should immediately reverse this suspension," NRSC spokesman Philip Letsou said of the suspension in a Tuesday statement, according to The Hill.
When Fox News Digital reached out to Daines' team for comment on the ban, he responded by saying, "My wife is a great shot. What can I say?"
Fox News Digital also reached out to Twitter to weigh in on the ban, but has yet to receive a response.
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