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 Thexalon on Wednesday May 27 2020, @01:40PM (5 children)
No it wouldn't: Lies that go through a PR agency are still lies, they just are worded to sound better and be less obvious.
As far as the president goes, his devout following is proof that you can in fact fool some of the people all of the time.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @02:33PM (3 children)
In fact, it's proof that you can fool enough of the people all of the time.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Wednesday May 27 2020, @04:01PM (2 children)
You don't even have to fool a majority of the population to become president.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday May 27 2020, @07:41PM (1 child)
But you do have to fool, or convince, a majority of each of the population in a sufficient number of states to win enough votes in the electoral college, to become president.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by tangomargarine on Friday May 29 2020, @01:27AM
Apparently that sufficient number of states, worst case, comprises only 23% of the population.
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/02/500112248/how-to-win-the-presidency-with-27-percent-of-the-popular-vote [npr.org]
Damn
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 28 2020, @02:05PM
Then it becomes intentional dis-information, and there is not much that can be done about that. At that level, even fact-checkers might be paid off.
At least Lysol injection guidelines would not get through.