Matt Taibbi Details What The FBI Told Twitter To Get Posts Taken Down

Twitter

At yesterday's House Weaponization of the Federal Government Committee hearing, Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) spoke to Matt Taibbi about the FBI's relationship with Twitter.

The relationship between tech companies and the federal government has been a topic of concern for many Americans, especially when it comes to issues of free speech and censorship. In a recent hearing, journalist Matt Taibbi testified about the findings of his investigation into the cooperation between Twitter and government agencies, specifically the FBI.

Taibbi described how the growing network of federal agencies and tech companies was focused on identifying individuals whose opinions or beliefs were deemed to be misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation. Notably, he pointed out that the word "unlawful" was missing from this list, indicating that the focus was on speech rather than any actual illegal activity.

According to Taibbi, the FBI would routinely request that Twitter take down posts that they deemed to be in violation of the company's terms of service. This was often the primary justification for their requests, rather than any actual violation of federal law. Taibbi noted that the FBI used words like "malinformation" and "disinformation" to describe these posts, rather than focusing on their accuracy or truthfulness.

One email from a Twitter lawyer named Sasha Cardiel revealed that the FBI was essentially conducting word searches of Twitter's terms of service in order to find violations, which they could then recommend be taken down. This approach to policing speech on social media raised concerns about the government's role in suppressing free expression and the potential conflict with the First Amendment.

Taibbi also highlighted the presence of former FBI and other government agency employees working at Twitter. He found it significant that a significant number of these individuals were from the intelligence community, suggesting a close relationship between the government and social media companies.

Overall, Taibbi's testimony raises important questions about the relationship between the federal government and tech companies and the potential impact on free speech. While there may be a legitimate need to address disinformation and misinformation, it is important to ensure that any efforts to do so do not undermine the principles of free expression enshrined in the First Amendment.

Comments

'Fauci Is In The Witness Protection Program Now': DeSantis Highlights Lower Profile For Dr. Fauci

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr 'Fauci Is In The Witness Protection Program Now': DeSantis Highlights Lower Profile For Dr. Fauci. At a press event on Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis spoke about Dr. Fauci. The Press Conference was held at the University of South Florida to announce investments in cybersecurity workforce education. During the same news conference, he took a shot at Dr. Anthony Fauci, Biden's chief medical advisor, over his actions during the Coronavirus pandemic. DeSantis has fundraised off of attacking Fauci and his campaign sells anti-Fauci merchandise. "I agree if you think about what they've done, Fauci is in the witness protection program now," said DeSantis, when asked if there were any parts of Biden's State of the Union address that he agreed on. "If you listen to them, they have never supported all these policies that were so destructive." During this press conference he was also talking about...

JUST IN: AG Pam Bondi Asked Point Blank To Provide Evidence About Kilmar Abrego Garcia

President Trump With AG Pam Bondi JUST IN: AG Pam Bondi Confronted Over Lack of Public Evidence Against Kilmar Abrego Garcia Washington, D.C. – April 16, 2025 — During a tense press briefing on Wednesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi was asked point blank to provide public evidence that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, currently imprisoned in El Salvador, is affiliated with the violent MS-13 gang. The question came after weeks of speculation and criticism regarding the administration’s lack of transparency in high-profile deportation cases. Pam Bondi defended the administration’s handling of the case, stating unequivocally that Garcia is an “illegal alien” and a confirmed member of MS-13. According to Bondi, Garcia had been ruled an MS-13 member by both an immigration judge and an appellate court. “ICE testified, an immigration judge ruled, and an appellate judge confirmed — he is a member of MS-13. Hard stop,” Bondi said during the briefing. She added that Garcia was never going to r...

Watch Reporter Presses Karoline Leavitt About Trump Directing The DOJ To Investigate Chris Krebs

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr JUST IN: Reporter Grills Karoline Leavitt Over Trump’s DOJ Order to Investigate Chris Krebs April 15, 2025 | Washington, D.C. — During a tense White House press briefing on Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced pointed questions about President Donald Trump’s recent directive to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate former cybersecurity official Chris Krebs . Krebs, who served as the first Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), was fired by Trump in 2020 after publicly debunking claims of widespread voter fraud in the presidential election. Now, he’s back in the spotlight amid a renewed focus from the Trump administration. A reporter pressed Leavitt, referencing Trump’s past statements that it would be an abuse of power for a president to direct criminal investigations against political adversaries. “Last week, President Trump explicitly directed the DOJ to scru...

Fox News Reporter Asks Karoline Leavitt: Why Do Ivy League Schools Get So Much Money?

Karoline Leavitt JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Responds to Fox News on Why Ivy League Schools Receive Billions in Federal Funding Washington, D.C. | April 15, 2025 — During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Fox News reporter Peter Doocy pressed White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt with a question many Americans are asking: “Why do Ivy League schools get so much federal funding?” Leavitt responded directly, noting that President Trump has also been raising this issue behind the scenes during ongoing discussions with top institutions like Harvard , Columbia , and other Ivy League schools. “It’s a very good question,” Leavitt said. “It’s a question the President has obviously raised in his discussions and negotiations — not just with Harvard but also Columbia and many other Ivy League institutions.” ❗ Focus on Accountability and Anti-Semitism The exchange came amid a broader crackdown on federal funding to elite universities accused of promoting anti-Semitism or all...

JUST IN: DeSantis Torches Republican Randy Fine After He Wins In Florida Special Election

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr Ron DeSantis Blasts Republican Randy Fine After Florida Special Election Win Tallahassee, FL – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis delivered a scathing rebuke of Republican Randy Fine following his victory in Florida’s Special Congressional Election . While Fine secured the win, DeSantis criticized his underperformance , attributing it to Fine’s controversial political record and lack of voter enthusiasm . DeSantis: Fine’s Win Was a Struggle for the GOP Despite winning the special election, Randy Fine failed to secure the same overwhelming support previous Republican candidates enjoyed in the district. DeSantis pointed out that President Donald Trump won the district by 30 points in 2020 , while DeSantis himself carried it by over 35 points in 2022 . However, Fine’s victory margin was significantly lower , leading DeSantis to call out the millions of dollars spent by the GOP just to keep the district red—a race that s...

Karoline Leavitt Responds To Claims That The SAVE Act Inhibits Married Womens’ Access To The Polls

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Responds to Claims That the SAVE Act Inhibits Married Women’s Access to the Polls Press Secretary Calls Criticism "Fear-Mongering," Reaffirms Bill’s Support for Voter Integrity WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 11, 2025 — During Friday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt firmly rejected claims that the newly passed SAFEGUARD American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act would restrict married women or women changing their names from voting in upcoming elections. The SAVE Act, which was passed by the House on Thursday, requires individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. While the legislation has drawn praise from supporters who view it as a critical step toward securing election integrity , it has also sparked concern among critics — particularly regarding its impact on married women whose legal names may not match current identi...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Asked Point Blank About Impact Of Trump’s Tariffs On Fishing Industry

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr JUST IN: DeSantis Responds to Trump Tariffs Concerns for Florida's Fishing Industry TALLAHASSEE, FL — At a press briefing on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was asked directly about the potential effects of former President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on the state's robust fishing industry . While DeSantis downplayed a direct connection to recreational fishing , he took the opportunity to spotlight a more pressing issue: federal overregulation and outdated data harming Florida’s anglers. “In terms of recreational fishing, I’m not sure that [tariffs] are necessarily going to be as direct,” said DeSantis. “The bigger issue is that the federal government continues to restrict the ability of our anglers to access resources in the Atlantic and Gulf .” DeSantis: State Management of Red Snapper Season a Game-Changer DeSantis pointed to Florida’s success in managing Gulf red snapper seasons after the feder...

JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Issues Blunt Warning To Illegal Immigrants Over 'Alien Registration Act' Deadline

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Issues Blunt Warning to Illegal Immigrants Ahead of Alien Registration Act Deadline Washington, D.C. – White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt issued a firm warning today to all foreign nationals in the United States, emphasizing the importance of complying with the Alien Registration Act as the federal registration deadline arrives. Speaking from the White House press podium, Leavitt reminded the public that foreign nationals present in the United States for more than 30 days are required by law to register with the federal government. Failure to comply, she said, is a criminal offense punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both . “The deadline for registration under the Alien Registration Act is today. All foreign nationals present in the United States longer than 30 days must register,” Leavitt said. “Failure to comply with this is a crime punishable by fines, imprisonment, or ...

JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Asked Point Blank If Trump Would Support Stock Trading Ban For Members Of Congress

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr JUST IN: Karoline Leavitt Asked If Trump Supports Stock Trading Ban for Members of Congress Washington, D.C. — April 15, 2025 — During Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked point-blank whether President Donald Trump supports a ban on stock trading for members of Congress —a topic that continues to stir debate across party lines. Leavitt responded by saying, “I’m certain that’s something the President would be interested in looking at, and I can ask him if he would support such a bill.” Her comment, while not a definitive endorsement, signals that the Trump administration may be open to further reviewing legislative efforts aimed at increasing financial transparency and reducing conflicts of interest among elected officials. 💼 Growing Calls for a Stock Trading Ban in Congress Momentum for a Congressional stock trading ban has grown across the political spectrum, especi...

JUST IN: President Trump Asked Point Blank About Hearing On The Alien Enemies Act

Photo "Donald Trump" by Dan Scavino JUST IN: President Trump Responds to Hearing on the Alien Enemies Act — “We Were Elected to Clean Up the Mess” WASHINGTON, D.C. — April 22, 2025 — Speaking to reporters during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll , President Donald Trump addressed questions surrounding a federal court hearing on the Alien Enemies Act , calling the proceedings a “waste of time” and reaffirming his administration’s focus on immigration enforcement. 🇺🇸 Trump Responds to DC District Court Hearing When asked specifically about the Alien Enemies Act hearing being held in the D.C. District Court, President Trump didn’t mince words. “Well, we were elected to clean up the mess of this country,” Trump stated. “We had millions and millions of people come in—criminals, murderers, drug lords, drug dealers. They came in from prisons and mental institutions. I was elected to move them out—and that’s exactly what we’re doing.” 🧠 What Is the Alien Enemies ...

US Hub

Search This Blog