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Twitter adds label to Trump's misleading tweets about mail-in ballots:
Twitter said Tuesday that it added a label to President Donald Trump's tweets for containing "potentially misleading information about voting processes," a rare move that shows the social media company is taking a tougher stance against misinformation.
It's the first time that Twitter has displayed a label on Trump's tweets.
On Tuesday, Trump tweeted that "There is NO WAY (ZERO!) that Mail-in-Ballots will be anything less than substantially fraudulent," a claim that has been debunked by fact-checkers and news organizations. He continues his remarks in another tweet, stating that it will be a "Rigged election."
A label appears under both tweets that states "Get the facts about mail-in ballots." Clicking on the warning notice directs users to a page that states that fact-checkers say there isn't any evidence that mail-in ballots are linked to voter fraud. Trump also falsely states in the tweets that California will send mail-in ballots to "anyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there" when only registered voters will receive ballots. States such as Oregon, Utah and Washington have long conducted elections by mail only, while states such as Nebraska allow any voter to request a ballot and vote by mail without having to provide a reason.
A Twitter spokeswoman said in a statement that the decision is in line with how the company approaches misinformation on its site, which includes adding warning notices and labels depending on the likelihood and severity of harm a tweet could cause.
Twitter's actions against Trump's tweets will also likely increase tensions between the company and conservative users, who allege that the social network suppresses their speech. Twitter has repeatedly denied those allegations. Earlier this month, Trump tweeted that the "Radical Left" is in control of Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Google and said his administration is working on a solution.
In two tweets, Trump accused Twitter of interfering in the 2020 US presidential election.
"Twitter is completely stifling FREE SPEECH, and I, as President, will not allow it to happen!," he tweeted.
Also at BBC News, Ars Technica, MIT Technology Review
(Score: 5, Insightful) by PiMuNu on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:02PM (30 children)
Whether or not free speech is "stifled" is irrelevant.
Hundreds of thousands of people are reading Trump's tweets. Hundreds of journalists are tutting and writing words.
When will they get it - the only way to defeat a troll is "don't feed a troll"!
(Score: 4, Insightful) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:18PM (27 children)
There's a big difference between "suppressed," "stifled," and "equal time for opposing viewpoints."
A label on a potentially misleading statement is little more than equal time for opposing viewpoints.
Stifled would be if there were a cost (monetary or otherwise) for speaking out. I suppose making Trump look the fool when he tweets could be such a cost, but I hardly see how that's avoidable. It's certainly not a case of Twitter threatening to blast out all potential evidence for Russian support of Trump's campaigns any time he tweets - that would be more stifling, but still not suppression.
Suppression is when speech is simply not allowed- Twitter blocking or taking down Trump's tweets would be suppression. Plenty of legitimate smaller tweeters are suppressed daily by arbitrary policies, DMCA abuses, etc. which they are effectively powerless to overcome. Suppression should be our primary concern. The rest are just asking people to think for themselves - those not inclined to do so will ignore and/or ridicule the opposing viewpoints anyway - those who are on the fence deserve the opportunity to decide for themselves which side they prefer.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 5, Insightful) by PiMuNu on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:22PM (25 children)
I agree with everything you say, but it doesnt matter. The world's journalists have been trolled again by Trump. Every time he trolls like this, he wins votes. That's what matters.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:59PM (16 children)
I'd like to think that he wins votes that don't matter - anybody who would get pulled to his side by something like this was probably firmly on his side anyway. I suppose the "real" damage is that he can make his believers insecure and more likely to vote... we certainly need more of that on the opposing side.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2, Troll) by fustakrakich on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:06PM (11 children)
we certainly need more of that on the opposing side.
What opposing side?
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:58PM (4 children)
Troll
:-) Democrats are particularly sensitive today
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @05:47PM (3 children)
Poor victim!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:58PM (2 children)
Poor democrats! Tossing an election during a time like this... What are they thinking?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @05:50AM (1 child)
Soooo you're lamenting Trump's inadequacy? Sounds about right!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 29 2020, @03:48AM
Oh please! We've known about Trump for over thirty years. He is doing exactly what is expected of him. There is nothing new under the sun
No, what is most lamentable is the opposition's inadequacy. It is so easily sabotaged, mostly because it is false, nothing more than partisan whining. It actually fortifies Trump
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:10PM (5 children)
Fair point... pretty depressing, but in this instance the greater evil is pretty clear. (Master and Commander movie joke quote: we must always choose the lesser wevil.)
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:50PM (3 children)
You are grading them on their acting abilities and assume they are in opposition.
Strategic voting for the "lesser evil" is what led us here to this... man. It was inevitable
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday May 28 2020, @06:49PM (2 children)
Not really acting abilities anymore. Mr. "YOU'RE FIRED!!!" has been perfectly in character throughout his term and the only thing I'm shocked at is that he didn't fire Faucci. After a while, defunding agencies that support "the notion of climate change", firing all officials within his line of sight that don't toe his shifting line of cheeto dust, granting executive free passes to any and all businesses that meet his low bar for special favors, etc. does start to make a difference. "The party" behind him is continuing to run most of the show, but infant in chief has truly made a difference all by himself too.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday May 28 2020, @07:09PM (1 child)
Trump only gave us a glimpse behind the camera and in the front office. He rubbed the polish off the turd. He threatens to expose their world, as if it matters any more. Reelection in congress will still hold at over 90%.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Thursday May 28 2020, @07:54PM
I've met more than one U.S. Congressman over the years - they can be really reasonable human beings when you're face to face discussing one issue. IDK what happens when you put 435 of them in a room, it's like a critical mass of corruptibility has been achieved and their humanity just implodes.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:44PM
we really need to split this country up by various criteria. politics, race, religion, etc.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by PiMuNu on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:56PM (3 children)
> I'd like to think that he wins votes that don't matter
Not sure why I am getting modded troll. But meh...
The technique that Trump applies so successful is to keep the media focussed on his policies, his tweets, etc. Time and again he has distracted the media from covering democrat policy, or republican cock-ups. He uses the same trick every time, that is drop a tweet that implies racism, fascism, etc without actually being racist or sexist. The democrats get their backs up, the republicans point out that he hasn't done anything wrong, the moderates sort of get stuck in the middle. Usually he picks something designed to inflame the democrats without really being significant. And once again, he gets his message out and blocks the opposition.
Like I say, he is a great troll.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @03:22PM (1 child)
Not sure why I am getting modded troll.
democrats
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:25PM
Actually it is a false flag operation by Republican sock puppets to stoke partisan anger. But whatever makes you feel special.
(Score: 1) by hemocyanin on Friday May 29 2020, @02:51AM
The media is grateful because the less Joe Biden talks, the better his chances of winning are.
(Score: 3, Informative) by DannyB on Wednesday May 27 2020, @03:44PM (7 children)
I doubt that. He may win more cheers from his blind loyal worshipers. But they will vote for him no matter what. He could announce that "the voices" told him to start a nuclear war with every other country on Earth. His followers would follow him over the cliff.
It doesn't mean he is gaining votes.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:09PM (1 child)
In fact, he may be losing some of his most important voters.
Trump is polling worse with older voters than in 2016 [fivethirtyeight.com]
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:18PM
There was an article on Ars Technica in the last day or so.
Good News: overall trust in scientists and doctors is higher
Bad News: that increase in trust is from democrats, while republicans trust them even less, but are outnumbered in the results
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:05PM (4 children)
Biden could boil babies and eat them, could be a literal rapist, and their followers would be obligated to vote for him. So say all your political officers.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 27 2020, @08:59PM
Wrong.
For your first item, vegetarians would be screaming. Others would say these should have been "free range" babies. Others would raise nutrition concerns.
For your second item, democrats would be screaming about women's rights, No means No, safe spaces, how Biden discriminated by not raping a male, something about non binary gender; and republicans would be screaming that Biden is copying Trump.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 27 2020, @09:23PM (1 child)
"The babies are healthy and nutritious. Rich in protein. Don't give them lollipops." -- some US president
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @12:57AM
Nixon?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 29 2020, @08:16AM
Well, that's what it means to be a vapid partisan hack devoid of principles. You can't expect anything else from neoliberal corporatists or rabid Trump cultists; they are a cancer upon the world.
(Score: 2) by fyngyrz on Wednesday May 27 2020, @05:28PM
...(cough) Trump accomplishes that without any help from anyone. The man is a fool. And worse.
--
There are two kinds of people in this world.
Those who love cats, and
those who aren't allowed in my house.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by looorg on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:59PM (1 child)
The mail-in ballot system appears to work in a lot of states, and other countries, so if he "knows" that they are somehow the source of massive fraud then I guess it's time to put up or shut up? That said I doubt that will happen.
One can really ask who the target of his tweets are. That media, and people that just hate him no matter what he does, are always going to be triggered no matter what he would tweet so there is really no pleasing that.
I don't really care for his tweets but I wouldn't want to forbid him from doing so, it's seems mostly pointless and it's probably targeted pandering to his base -- like a lot of political speeches are no matter the platform.
Example -- his previous statements of "last night in Sweden". Clearly not meant for people in Sweden but the people that went to his rally -- to show how fucked up things had become or that it wasn't like it used to be. Media- and political people in Sweden got super-triggered about it. But yes I do believe that he actually no matter what the outcome is here will "win" and the idiots just keep taking the bait over and over again. So you sort of have to admire him for that -- he knows how to rile up the masses of idiots.
So is this a new feather that the Twitter-AI is going to put on all tweets or is it special just for the Donald? If it is just for him then he might actually have a point. If it's going to be for everyone then there is a gonna be a lot of tweets that will carry that tag since a lot of them are probably misleading about something.
(Score: 2) by helel on Wednesday May 27 2020, @08:42PM
As I understand the situation Twitter has been putting these citations on misleading tweets for a while now. They've been doing it for at least a few weeks with regards to COVID-19 [reuters.com] and the primary complaint I've read about before now is that they weren't applying it to Trump or other politicians blatantly misleading Tweets.