Twitter Files
 | A request that this article title be changed to Twitter Files is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed. |
An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
| Type | Investigation of internal documents provided by Twitter |
|---|---|
| Reporter | Matt Taibbi, Bari Weiss |
The Twitter Files is investigative journalism released on Twitter concerning a set of internal Twitter documents whose contents were first reported in a series of December 2022 tweets by Matt Taibbi.[1][2]
The first installment of the Twitter Files was presented by journalist Taibbi on 2 December and discussed excerpts from internal emails amongst Twitter employees who were discussing moderation of content, including that related to the New York Post article dated 14 October 2020 that fomented the Hunter Biden laptop controversy.[3][4]
History
The internal Twitter documents were provided to independent journalists Matt Taibbi and Bari Weiss,[5] according to Twitter CEO Elon Musk.[6][7] Taibbi noted that "in exchange for the opportunity to cover a unique and explosive story, I had to agree to certain conditions" that he did not disclose.[8][9]
The first installment, presented by Taibbi on 2 December, discussed excerpts from internal emails amongst Twitter employees who were discussing moderation of content, including content related to the New York Post article in 2020 that fomented the Hunter Biden laptop controversy.[3] Taibbi's presentation largely confirmed what was already known and did not contain any significant new revelations.[10][11]
Taibbi reported Twitter had "received and honored" deletion requests from both the Biden campaign and the Trump White House; he presented examples of the former but not of the latter. The Biden campaign deletion requests related to salacious imagery of Hunter Biden, while Taibbi said Twitter had blocked tweets by former Trump administration officials promoting the New York Post story. Musk tweeted during the Taibbi presentation that Twitter had acted "under orders from the government" in violation of the First Amendment, though his interpretation of the First Amendment was disputed.[12] Taibbi tweeted, "there is no evidence - that I’ve seen - of any government involvement in the laptop story."[13][14]
On 3 December, Elon Musk, who had provided the emails, retweeted the thread by Taibbi concerning Twitter's internal discussion of content moderation concerning the 2020 New York Post story.[15]
Twitter decided to restrict the sharing of the New York Post story in October 2020 as "hacked materials" and locked accounts that shared it, including those of the newspaper and then White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany. The moves drew widespread criticism from supporters of Donald Trump, who used the controversy to further their claims that tech companies censor their viewpoints.[16]
Content
The Twitter Files are composed of internal documents from Twitter, including emails from senior Twitter staff. Taibbi's presentation largely confirmed what was already known and did not contain any significant new revelations.[17][18] Some of these documents reported on described Twitter's internal deliberations regarding the decision to censor the reporting of the New York Post regarding the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop,[1][2] while others contained information on how Twitter treated tweets that were flagged for removal at the request of the 2020 Biden campaign team and the Trump Administration.[4] Some tweets submitted for review by the Biden campaign contained nude photos of Hunter Biden.[19][20][21] Business Insider, Salon and CNN have speculated that those tweets were removed in compliance with Twitter's own non-consensual nudity policy[20][19][21] and California state law, which Business Insider says makes sharing such imagery illegal.[19]
According to Taibbi, the Twitter Files number in the thousands.[1][6]
Due to the the overwhelming liberal
and progressive makeup of Twitter employees at the time. There was a significant bias for the left.
Reactions
James A. Baker, deputy general counsel at Twitter, was fired by Elon Musk on December 6, 2022 for allegedly vetting information before it was passed on to Taibbi and Weiss, and providing an explanation that Musk found "unconvincing". Baker had previously been general counsel for the FBI.[22][23]
References
- ^ a b c Grynbaum, Michael M. (December 4, 2022). "Elon Musk, Matt Taibbi, and a Very Modern Media Maelstrom". The New York Times.
- ^ a b ""End of story": Elon Musk responds to Trump's "Twitter Files" reaction". Axios (website). December 4, 2022.
- ^ a b Zakrzewski, Cat; Siddiqui, Faiz (December 3, 2022). "Elon Musk's 'Twitter Files' ignite divisions, but haven't changed minds". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b Garrison, Joey; Schulz, Bailey; Guynn, Jessica (December 3, 2022). "Elon Musk's 'Twitter files': Emails reveal internal struggle on handling of Hunter Biden laptop". USA Today.
- ^ @mtaibbi (December 6, 2022). "The process for producing the "Twitter Files" involved delivery to two journalists (Bari Weiss and me) via a lawyer close to new management. However, after the initial batch, things became complicated" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Fischer, Sara (December 6, 2022). "The alternative-media industrial complex". Axios (website).
- ^ Brown, Natalie (December 4, 2022). "Elon Musk says risk of his assassination is 'quite significant'". New Zealand Herald.
- ^ Zakrzewski, Cat; Faiz Siddiqui (December 3, 2022). "Elon Musk's 'Twitter Files' ignite divisions, but haven't changed minds". The Washington Post.
- ^ Taibbi, Matt (December 2, 2022). "Note to Readers". TK News by Matt Taibbi.
- ^ Fung, Brian (December 4, 2022). "Released Twitter emails show how employees debated how to handle 2020 New York Post Hunter Biden story". CNN.
- ^ Bushard, Brian. "Musk's 'Twitter Files': Internal Hunter Biden Debate Revealed With Much Hype But No Bombshells". Forbes. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ French, David (December 3, 2022). "Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson Don't Understand the First Amendment". The Atlantic.
- ^ Garrison, Brian; Bailey Schulz; Jessica Guynn (December 4, 2022). "Released Twitter emails show how employees debated how to handle 2020 New York Post Hunter Biden story". CNN.
- ^ "Elon Musk's 'Twitter files': Emails reveal internal struggle on handling of Hunter Biden laptop". USA Today. December 3, 2022.
- ^ Pandey, Nikhil (December 3, 2022). "Elon Musk Retweets "Twitter Files", Reveals Details On "Hunter Biden Story" Censor". NDTV.
- ^ Ingram, David (December 5, 2022). "Elon Musk promotes release of the internal Twitter documents rehashing platform's block of Hunter Biden story". NBC News.
- ^ Bushard, Brian. "Musk's 'Twitter Files': Internal Hunter Biden Debate Revealed With Much Hype But No Bombshells". Forbes. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ Fung, Brian (December 3, 2022). "Released Twitter emails show how employees debated how to handle 2020 New York Post Hunter Biden story | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved December 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c Tangalakis-Lippert, Katherine (December 3, 2022). "Elon Musk's 'Twitter Files' drop revealed some of the tweets the Biden campaign asked the social app to remove were nude photos of Hunter Biden spread without his consent". Business Insider.
- ^ a b Fung, Brian (December 4, 2022). "Released Twitter emails show how employees debated how to handle 2020 New York Post Hunter Biden story". CNN.
- ^ a b Shah, Areeba (December 5, 2022). "Elon Musk's hyped "Twitter Files" show Biden campaign asked to remove Hunter Biden nude photos". Salon.
- ^ Tong, Sebastian (December 6, 2022). "Musk Says Deputy General Counsel 'Exited' From Twitter". Bloomberg News.
- ^ Delouya, Samantha (December 6, 2022). "Elon Musk confirmed the firing of Twitter deputy general counsel James Baker for allegedly interfering in the publication of the Twitter Files". Business Insider.