Trump signs executive order against Twitter after fact-checking one of his tweets

It will come as no surprise to anyone if we say that Donald Trump has a very special relationship with the truth. We can no longer count the number of lies, distortions, lies (sometimes shameless) and dubious attacks (physical, gender, even disability, among other examples…) against his enemies and sometimes simple interlocutors.

Faced with this wave of testosterone-fuelled populism, nothing seems to be able to hold its own. It’s as if modern democracies are made of porcelain, and the current tenant of the White House was a big hammer, ready to break anything that would eventually touch him.

Can Twitter be criticized for not fact-checking false statements?

Twitter was right to fact-check two tweets by the American president; moreover, the social network has been doing all the posts of politicians and other influencers of all stripes for some time now. In one of his messages, he stated that voting by mail in the United States is a must, a possible alternative in an exceptional health context. “Tainted by fraud”.

Jack Dorsey’s social network then reported on his tweet, linking him to a series of press articles explaining exactly how this voting method is rarely linked to the slightest bit of fraud. The other report related to a tweet by the president in which he claimed that California would allow “Everyone living in the state, no matter who they are or how they got there.” vote by mail.

Here again, we understand that the president wants to attack a state that was largely supported by Democrats during his (first?) term in office. However, after checking the facts, the president’s claim actually appears to be flawed because, as Twitter pointed out in the articles, only residents registered on the voting rolls will be able to request such voting. So this will be much more regulated than the president suggests.

Twitter has become Donald Trump’s platform of choice in recent years, a communication channel whose codes he has mastered and which undoubtedly helped him get elected in 2017. It seems natural that Twitter would arm itself with weapons to prevent some of its users, no matter how important, from using the social network’s awesome power to spread misinformation on this side of the Atlantic.

Donald Trump threatens Twitter with sanctions-like decision

But in the United States, and especially in Washington, the situation is different; just like today, it is full of paradoxes. In the press conference held after the disclaimer appeared under two of his tweets, Donald Trump unsurprisingly denied that his tweets were false. Even if the facts are stubborn. And he began to threaten to regulate social networks better.

But this Thursday, it has now been confirmed: Donald Trump just signed the executive orderThis calls into question Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, which states that American companies are not liable for content posted by third parties on their platforms. Seemingly harmless, This change is potentially devastating for the influence of American social networks worldwide.

In fact, a change could see them inundated with legal complaints for every message that suggests responsibility, regardless of its origin in the world. This would put an end to the civility that has enabled networks like Twitter and Facebook to soar. Because this law creates a space of free expression that is accessible to everyone, anywhere in the world. It is therefore difficult not to see it as a form of punishment.

Twitter and Facebook say they are not ‘arbitrators of truth’

In response, Twitter and Facebook objected, saying they had no intention of ending up in that situation. “arbitrators of truth”Facebook announced that it specifically touched on Article 230 “will restrict online speech more, not less“Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey tweeted ahead of the decision, confirming that his platform would continue to fact-check claims by politicians, including, we assume, Trump, although the latter was not directly mentioned.

As for Google, a spokesperson for the company confirmed: “Undermining Section 230 in this way would harm the U.S. economy and its global leadership in Internet freedom.” It is not yet known what the actual scope of this decree will be. Because the right to make changes to this text belongs to the FCC and the FTC, two institutions independent of the White House’s authority, as it cannot be passed by the Parliament immediately.

The order also risks being challenged in court, which some, like Kate Ruane, spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), believe “Donald Trump is not the president of Twitter.” The ACLU adds that its latest executive order reads: “a blatant and unconstitutional threat to punish social media companies that the president doesn’t like“. The main person involved says he is confident about the outcome before the court.

And the president says that other actions are planned in addition to this decree…

Source : Cnet.com