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posted by Fnord666 on Wednesday May 27 2020, @12:31PM   Printer-friendly
from the fact-checking dept.

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


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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by PiMuNu on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:22PM (25 children)

    by PiMuNu (3823) on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:22PM (#999612)

    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.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +3  
       Troll=1, Redundant=1, Insightful=3, Interesting=1, Touché=1, Total=7
    Extra 'Insightful' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   5  
  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by JoeMerchant on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:59PM (16 children)

    by JoeMerchant (3937) on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:59PM (#999627)

    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.

    --
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    • (Score: 2, Troll) by fustakrakich on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:06PM (11 children)

      by fustakrakich (6150) on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:06PM (#999632) Journal

      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)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:58PM (#999674)

        Troll

        :-) Democrats are particularly sensitive today

        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @05:47PM (3 children)

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @05:47PM (#999788)

          Poor victim!

          • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:58PM (2 children)

            by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:58PM (#999846)

            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)

              by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @05:50AM (#1000066)

              Soooo you're lamenting Trump's inadequacy? Sounds about right!

              • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 29 2020, @03:48AM

                by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 29 2020, @03:48AM (#1000402)

                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)

        by JoeMerchant (3937) on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:10PM (#999737)

        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)

          by fustakrakich (6150) on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:50PM (#999762) Journal

          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)

            by JoeMerchant (3937) on Thursday May 28 2020, @06:49PM (#1000237)

            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)

              by fustakrakich (6150) on Thursday May 28 2020, @07:09PM (#1000242) Journal

              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

                by JoeMerchant (3937) on Thursday May 28 2020, @07:54PM (#1000262)

                Reelection in congress will still hold at over 90%.

                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

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:44PM (#999836)

          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)

      by PiMuNu (3823) on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:56PM (#999673)

      > 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)

        by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @03:22PM (#999689)

        Not sure why I am getting modded troll.

        democrats

        • (Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:25PM

          by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:25PM (#999753)

          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

        by hemocyanin (186) on Friday May 29 2020, @02:51AM (#1000376) Journal

        ... he has distracted the media from covering democrat policy ...

        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)

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday May 27 2020, @03:44PM (#999707) Journal

    Every time [Trump] trolls like this, he wins votes.

    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.

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    • (Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:09PM (1 child)

      by DeathMonkey (1380) on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:09PM (#999735) Journal

      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

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:18PM (#999750) Journal

        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

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    • (Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:05PM (4 children)

      by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @06:05PM (#999800)

      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.

      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

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday May 27 2020, @08:59PM (#999915) Journal

        Biden could boil babies and eat them, could be a literal rapist, and their followers would be obligated to vote for him

        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.

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      • (Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday May 27 2020, @09:23PM (1 child)

        by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Wednesday May 27 2020, @09:23PM (#999925) Journal

        "The babies are healthy and nutritious. Rich in protein. Don't give them lollipops." -- some US president

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        • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @12:57AM

          by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @12:57AM (#1000001)

          Nixon?

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 29 2020, @08:16AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 29 2020, @08:16AM (#1000454)

        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.