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Twitter Has Been Secretly Verifying Thousands of Accounts, Even Though It Insists Its Verification Program is on Hold (mashable.com)

Twitter has verified more than 10,000 accounts in recent months, despite putting its verification program on hold. From a report: The company has said little publicly about verification, which it suspended in 2017 following backlash over its verification of a white supremacist. But data viewed by Mashable suggests the company is verifying a flurry of accounts each month despite the supposed break. Celebrities, and others with backchannel connections to the company, are able to become verified as Twitter ignores everyday users and those without insider access. In many ways, this secretive process is now more opaque and unfair than it was when anyone could apply on Twitter's website. At a time when Twitter says it's trying to be more transparent about its rules, the lack of an official verification policy is hurting groups already susceptible to abuse, critics say. Further reading: 'Verified' Is Now a Derogatory Term on Twitter.

97 comments

  1. The Real Donald J Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Approves.

    Of everything Putin.

    Especially Putin cock.

    1. Re: The Real Donald J Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just WAIT till Mueller comes up with something. Putin's trained KGB officers mind melded with American voters and made them vote for cheetoh man. #HRC2020

    2. Re: The Real Donald J Trump by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Please no HRC...

  2. Feeding the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Interesting

    You know, if everyone just stopped paying Twitter attention, it would cease to be. You fools are the fashioners of your own fetters.

    1. Re:Feeding the Beast by Stolovaya · · Score: 1

      *musical note* Just don't look, just don't look...

    2. Re:Feeding the Beast by alvinrod · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think Twitter is just another form of whatever the Jerry Springer Show was (is?) in that it's a dumpster fire that draws people in like moths to its dumpster fire flame. Only Twitter lets you be act like part of the live studio audience and join in dumpster fire from anywhere on the planet.

      You're asking people to step away from that and expecting that they'll be able to do so?

    3. Re:Feeding the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

      Just like how everyone stopped paying attention to the Nazi regime in the 40s and it ceased to be.

    4. Re:Feeding the Beast by ArchieBunker · · Score: 2

      Twitter gave everyone a voice. Unfortunately that voice is cancer. We would all be better off if twitter just disappeared.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    5. Re:Feeding the Beast by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      Oh yeah I see twitter trucks driving around picking up Jews constantly.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    6. Re: Feeding the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No it fucking didnt. People's mouths and vocal cords and air give them a voice. Twitter is just garble and bullshit text

    7. Re:Feeding the Beast by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know, right? My sister just died of Typhus last week because the Nazis won't let us go outside and see a doctor. My mom's leg isn't doing too well either; a pile of rubble fell on it when we were holed up during the Luftwaffe air raids.

      Oh wait, no, that didn't happen, I was just imagining that it was still 1942.

  3. Who can you trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Getting hard to trust any web centered company anyore. They tell you one thing and do entirely the opposite.

    1. Re:Who can you trust? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Getting hard to trust any web centered company anyore.

      That's a strange fetish, but godspeed mofo.

  4. Hate Speech by bitchtits · · Score: 5, Interesting

    As an avid twitter user, I encounter a lot of hate speech on twitter. When I report people, it seems those that are verified get away with it while those with no blue tick are temporarily or permanently suspended, even for the exact same behaviour. Twitter isn't thoroughly awful, though some thoroughly awful people get verified blue ticks and continue to pollute the internet .

    1. Re:Hate Speech by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1, Insightful

      Can you give a legal definition of "hate speech"?

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    2. Re:Hate Speech by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      You aren't imagining it, that is actually the case. Twitter gives established accounts more leeway and spends more time investigating the context of tweets. The newer the account, the harsher they are towards it, because when they ban people they often just make new accounts, or make lots of sock puppet accounts to harass someone, and rapid bans are their solution.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:Hate Speech by rv6502 · · Score: 0, Troll

      Hate Speech
      noun
      1 : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for Progressive God
      2 : irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable

      https://www.merriam-webster.co...

      We're bringing back religion into the criminal code and it's called "progress".

    4. Re: Hate Speech by Type44Q · · Score: 0, Troll

      hate speech

      Pardon me but I have little patience for those who complacently spew propaganda. I believe you "meant" to say was "hateful speech" - in other words... speech.

    5. Re:Hate Speech by Shadow+of+Eternity · · Score: 0, Troll

      You misspelled "left wing". You can be left wing and openly call for violence, spout antisemitism and racism, whatever you want with utter impunity. Doesn't matter how established an account is, or how truthful accusations are or innocuous the statement, if you're not left wing you're fucked. People have been banned for quoting what a left wing bluecheck tweeted. It doesn't get more blatant than that.

      --
      A bullet may have your name on it but splash damage is addressed "To whom it may concern."
    6. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Blasphemy is not hate speech, fucktard. The concept is not even real, it only has meaning to religious nutbags.

    7. Re:Hate Speech by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      Can you give a legal definition of "hate speech"?

      Can you tell me why you need a legal definition if it? It's not like twitter is obliged to host anyone at all.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    8. Re:Hate Speech by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      Stolen from Wikipedia because it nicely copy pastes all the relevant laws:

      In England and Wales and Scotland the Public Order Act 1986 prohibits, by its Part 3, expressions of racial hatred, which is defined as hatred against a group of persons by reason of the group's colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins. Section 18 of the Act says:

      A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting, is guilty of an offence if—

      (a) he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or
      (b) having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.
      Offences under Part 3 carry a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment or a fine or both.[8]

      The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 inserted Section 4A into the Public Order Act 1986. That part prohibits anyone from causing alarm or distress. Section 4A states, in part:

      (1) A person is guilty of an offence if, with intent to cause a person harassment, alarm or distress, he—

      (a) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour, or
      (b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is threatening, abusive or insulting,
      thereby causing that or another person harassment, alarm or distress. ...

      (5) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale or to both.[9]

      The Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 amended the Public Order Act 1986 by adding Part 3A. That Part says, "A person who uses threatening words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, is guilty of an offence if he intends thereby to stir up religious hatred." The Part protects freedom of expression by stating in Section 29J:

      Nothing in this Part shall be read or given effect in a way which prohibits or restricts discussion, criticism or expressions of antipathy, dislike, ridicule, insult or abuse of particular religions or the beliefs or practices of their adherents, or of any other belief system or the beliefs or practices of its adherents, or proselytising or urging adherents of a different religion or belief system to cease practising their religion or belief system.

    9. Re:Hate Speech by rv6502 · · Score: 0

      You were so close to having an epiphany here:

      Blasphemy is not hate speech, fucktard. The concept is not even real, it only has meaning to religious nutbags.

      Funny how your definition fits "hate speech" perfectly as well.
      Hate speech is not real and it only has meaning to religious nutbags from the cult of progressivism.

      Yours dearly,
      Tim Fucktard.

    10. Re:Hate Speech by rv6502 · · Score: 1

      The fact my post and the Parent's post asking for the legal are definition getting moderated as "Troll" (saying something that causes rage, causes people to become irrationally upset) pretty much proves my point.

      People hold strong religious views over this so-called "hate speech" and in practice it has and still is used as a blasphemy law.

    11. Re: Hate Speech by Type44Q · · Score: 1
      Modded down for a rational and *self-evident* but nonetheless politically-incorrect observation... in this day and age??

      Will wonders never fucking cease... ;)

    12. Re:Hate Speech by ArchieBunker · · Score: 1

      Because hate speech cannot be defined in means clear enough for legal matters. It is entirely subjective like calling something art.

      --
      Only the State obtains its revenue by coercion. - Murray Rothbard
    13. Re:Hate Speech by serviscope_minor · · Score: 1

      Because hate speech cannot be defined in means clear enough for legal matters.

      So? We're talking about twitter not a court of law.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
  5. Proof of Twitter's Corruption by TimMD909 · · Score: 3, Informative

    https://youtu.be/DZCBRHOg3PQ Tim Pool destroyed Twitter's credibility. Twitter seems to have doubled down instead of reforming. It was brilliant watching someone with journalistic ethics who did his homework do his thing.

    1. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by PopeRatzo · · Score: 1, Funny

      Tim Pool destroyed Twitter's credibility.

      Tim Pool has a verified Twitter account by the way. I'm pretty sure that fact alone has done more to hurt Twitter's credibility than anything Pool has said or done.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    2. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, you unironically linked Joe Rogan.

    3. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      >Links to Joe Rogan while making statements about credibility.

    4. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Aighearach · · Score: 1, Interesting

      Never click links. Never.

      The goats from the old days were bad enough, but Joe Rogan?!

      Never click.

    5. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you need to take a dip in the Tim Pool.
      Bottoms Up!

    6. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1, Insightful

      I'm afraid Joe Rogan's journalistic ethics are questionable to say the least, given that he peddles conspiracy theories and is rather easy going on Infowars alums. You can see the effect right here - this story has been tagged "whitemaleboogyman", which is of course one of the conspiracies he has pushed in the past.

      It's a shame because Tim Pool had some interesting things to say, but then Rogan throws his own nonsense in and ruins it.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    7. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow popeR.
      Tim is pretty tame, if you wont talk with the messenger...? what you just crave emotional war?

      Come on man, he may be wrong but he certainly wants to talk, understand hand have principled reasoned conversations.

      Don't add fuel to the fire bro.

    8. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by sinij · · Score: 3, Informative

      Rogan's ethics are only questionable from your tainted point of view - that is he steadfastly refuses to abide by identity politics or fall into line with deplatforming fatwahs. He talks on his show with people from all sides and hardly ever outright hostile to anyone.

    9. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2, Informative

      No, he doesn't just give everyone a platform without favour. He gives a platform to people who spout the same kinds of conspiracy theory rubbish that he does.

      If that's what he wants to do then that is of course fine, it's up to him, but it doesn't add credibility to his show or anything he says. Quite the opposite in fact.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    10. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

      Tim Pool destroyed Twitter's credibility.

      Who the fuck is Tim Pool? I mean I've heard of twitter but I've never heard of that guy. So his "destruction" of Twitter's credibility is a little on the incomplete side.

      --
      SJW n. One who posts facts.
    11. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No, he doesn't just give everyone a platform without favour. He gives a platform to people who spout the same kinds of conspiracy theory rubbish that he does.

      If that's what he wants to do then that is of course fine, it's up to him, but it doesn't add credibility to his show or anything he says. Quite the opposite in fact.

      Nothing Rogan says seriously is a conspiracy theory in the manner you use the word and Trump is not getting arrested by Mueller either

    12. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Who the fuck is Tim Pool?

      Stop being lazy and find out. Ever since his panel with Joe Rogan, Jack Dorsey and Vidaya Gadde, he's been gaining a lot of popularity. If you find this Twitter drama important, then it is important that you know who Tim Pool is and the impact he has made in this debate.

      The panel discussion is nearly four hours long, and every damn minute of it is worth watching. This is how journalism used to be -- long format, not soundbites and memes and CG departments.

    13. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Drink! Amimojo pulls a red herring!

      (see, the OP said it was Tim Pool who exposed twitter, and instead of addressing what Pool brought up, Ami is changing the topic by talking about Rogan)

      Second drink that in this red herring, Amimojo does a "it's only ok when we do it"!

      (see, if the shoe was in the other foot, and it's twitter or other popular platforms not giving right leaning people/groups the time of day, you can bet Ami wouldn't try so hard to discredit the platform)

    14. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by sinij · · Score: 2

      He isn't giving anyone a platform, he is interviewing them. Do you acknowledge that there is a difference between interviewing and endorsing ideas?

      I think your identierian inclinations warped your thinking to the point that you can no longer tell the difference between discussing ideas and endorsing ideas. This is troubling, as logical conclusion of such framework is that one should never discuss ideas that are disagreeable. Obviously, I disagree, as I strongly believe that the proper way to discredit ideas is to discuss them and rebut them, not to attempt to censor them. One approach leads to enforced heresy rules other leads to truth-seeking.

    15. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by AmiMoJo · · Score: 0

      He isn't giving anyone a platform, he is interviewing them. Do you acknowledge that there is a difference between interviewing and endorsing ideas?

      Hmm, seems that you don't understand what "giving someone a platform" means. It doesn't mean endorsing their views, it means giving them an opportunity to reach an audience, in this case Rogan's audience. Obviously the reason he does it is because his audience likes his brand of conspiracy theory nonsense, and many of his guests offer similar but more extreme content.

      It's a clever move because it makes him look reasonable and rational in relation to their far out ideas, while also providing a soft introduction and helping to normalize them a little.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    16. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by sinij · · Score: 2

      With such definition "giving someone a platform" is 100% non-problematic in my view. Unless you think that treating adults like children is desirable and necessary and simply exposing someone to ideas is somehow harmful. Why have you decided that the likely outcome that Rogan's audience, who are largely are non-conformist and/or libertarians, overwhelmingly and disproportionately get brainwashed and misinformed?

      One troubling aspect of SJW ideology is that it is assumed that adults are incapable of making up their own mind, and simple exposure to undesirable ideas would turn them toward radicalism. This is not a justified assumption and it also used to infantelize and rob of agency SJW adherents.

      You are capable of making up your mind and deciding that some ideas are flawed. For example, if you came to a conclusion that Alex Jones is peddler of conspiracy theories and a kook why do you think other reasonable people would err? Why do you not extend the same to Rogan's audience and instead assume they all going to be wholesale brainwashed and it is all Rogan's fault for allowing this to happen?

    17. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      If Rogan was completely even-handed and gave everyone a platform (clearly impossible) you might have a point. But he doesn't, by necessity he selects guests deliberately. I see nothing wrong with criticising his choices.

      One troubling aspect of your ideology is that you make the assumption that everyone who disagrees with you is an SJW and is arguing using SJW logic. Your whole post is based on the assumption that I think adults need to be treated like children, which is not the case and not the basis of my argument here.

      That makes is very difficult to have a discussion with you, because you are arguing with some imaginary SJW version of me and we end up talking past each other.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    18. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by sinij · · Score: 2

      "Completely even-handed" is impossible standard, so it is pointless to even bring this up.

      You are not just criticizing Rogan's choices of guest selection, you explicitly criticizing him and his audience for endorsing conspiracy theories. Your tenuous logic, that conflates interviewing with endorsing, is that because he had interviewed some conspiracy theorists he must also endorse their conspiratorial views.

      I think "arguing using SJW logic" is a very reasonable model of your behavior when discussing social issues. However, I am open to having my mind changed as soon as you can find some example where you diverge from strictly adhering to SJW canon on pretty much any and all relevant topics.

      What makes it difficult to have a discussion with me is that I don't automatically agree with your points. However, I do note and appreciate you trying (and in my view often failing to) listen and understand my arguments instead of just skipping into hysterically shouting RACIST! or similar.

    19. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Sigh. I just said that it wasn't endorsement, kind of the opposite in fact. Why do you just ignore what I'm telling you and carry on arguing with the imaginary SJW version?

      If you really are open to having your mind changed then why do you ignore anything I saw which contradicts your assumptions?

      I'm happy to discuss with you, if you address the actual points I made. With the possible exception of puppet-master Mashiki I do try to give everyone a fair shake if they engage.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    20. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Drink! Amimojo pulls the "you didn't address my points, you're just arguing against a strawman SJW" excuse, which is itself a strawman that gets him out of addressing anything other people say!

    21. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by sinij · · Score: 2

      Sigh. I just said that it wasn't endorsement, kind of the opposite in fact. Why do you just ignore what I'm telling you and carry on arguing with the imaginary SJW version?

      No, he doesn't just give everyone a platform without favour. He gives a platform to people who spout the same kinds of conspiracy theory rubbish that he[Rogan] does.

      You need to reconcile these statements before we can move forward with our discussion.

    22. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Giving someone a platform is not an endorsement. I've explained that twice already, this is the third time. As I said, he often does it just to contrast their even more outlandish nonsense to make himself look more reasonable, i.e. the opposite of endorsing them.

      That's one of his major gimmicks. Pretend to be rational and questioning when peddling basically the same crap.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    23. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Giving someone a platform is not an endorsement.

      Drink! Amimojo explains a strawmanned form of his original statement, passing it off as having explained his original statement!

      See, he originally didn't just say give a platform, he said give a platform with favour, followed by saying Rogan's guests have the "same kind" of conspiracy theories that Rogan does.

      This makes the whole statement sound like Rogan lets on guests with conspiracy theories that Rogan favours (read: endorses)

      This is one of Ami's gimmicks. He has many other gimmicks in fact. So much so we have a drinking game for him, but not someone like Mashiki.

      Or to put it in Ami's terms, Mashiki is to Amimojo as Joe Rogan is to his guests. The former may push conspiracy theories, but the latter makes the former look rational in comparison.

    24. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by sinij · · Score: 2

      I fail to see your logic or you keep contradicting yourself. Can you explain how "peddling basically the same crap" is different from "endorsing them"?

      That is, you keep accusing Rogan of endorsing these views at the same time as stating "Giving someone a platform is not an endorsement".

    25. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      Well rival car manufacturers manage to peddle basically the same crap without endorsing the competition, so it seems pretty obvious what the difference is. They might have a side-by-side comparison with a competitor's model, but only for the purposes of showing how much better their's is.

      If you can't understand this then I'm afraid I'm out, it cannot be simplified any further and is mind-numbingly obvious. Having it explained to your four times is already more than I'm usually willing to entertain.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    26. Re:Proof of Twitter's Corruption by sinij · · Score: 1

      So at this point we firmly established that Rogan hosting people on his platform is not the same as endorsing their views. We also agreed that Rogan audience are adults capable of independently making their opinions about people Rogan interviews. You did not disagree with me when I stated that the risks of indoctrination/radicalization as a consequence of seeing Rogan podcasts is negligible.

      So far so good?

      Next topic - you also asserted that Rogan independently promoting conspiracy theories. Do you have any evidence of that? I am asking this in good faith - I am not Rogan's follower and aside from recent Twitter CEO interviews and occasional summary clip I have not watched his podcasts. So it is quite possible I am not sufficiently familiar with him. However, I have not seen any evidence of Rogan promoting any conspiracy theories. If anything, my impression that he is too nice/too neutral.

  6. Can't users authenticate on their own? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just sign your tweets, or at least sign one where you say "I'm so-and-so on Twitter." And if you're a celebrity, then whatever other media coverage that you're getting, already provides some way for you to tell everyone your PGP fingerprint. (e.g. put it next to your name in your movie's credits or something like that).

    The only problem I see here is Twitter's two-punchcard message-length limit, so you probably can't show a whole ASCII-armor message. Ideally they ought to upgrade to letting people use more punchcards, but I realize that could add up to a lot of paper.

    1. Re:Can't users authenticate on their own? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I've always thought it would be a great idea if people gave themselves "blue ticks" using GPG/PGP signatures, rather than relying on a corporate monarchy to hand them out like a knighting ceremony. You could also unverify yourself if your account is compromised simply by uploading a revoke.asc, rather than waiting for the mods to notice something is wrong.

      Of course, that would make sense, so it will never happen until you or I make such a platform. Race you to it! :)

  7. "bitchtits" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Yeah. I'm sure bitchtits it's really concerned with they decorum of the Internet.

    Anyway, there's no such thing as hate speech; there is no such thing as incitement to/of violence. You are either violent or you are not.

  8. Kill twitter by Ryanrule · · Score: 0

    It’s the worst site, run by the worst asshole. Dumpster it. Let the nazis have it.

    1. Re:Kill twitter by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Is there something wrong with your temporal lobe? The Nazis were defeated before the Internet was invented.

  9. TRANSLATION (IMHO)!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    "Twitter should explain how exactly they do verification so we can find ways to exploit/abuse it (& make it useless)!!!"

  10. Hitler took their guns away. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    When speech turned into Kristallnacht, what could you do without your guns, or without a cultural reverence for denying tyranny?

    You try Kristalllnacht here in the U.S., and you gon' die.

  11. TWITTER IS DOING IT RIGHT!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "this secretive process is now more opaque"

    IMHO, as long as, a way to verify accounts, which is proven to be absolutely impossible to exploit/abuse, is NOT found/known, Twitter needs to be absolutely secretive about it!!!

    1. Re:TWITTER IS DOING IT RIGHT!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Otherwise telling any details of the process would lead to abuse attempts (w/o any way to stop them)!!!

  12. But Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The company has said little publicly about verification, which it suspended in 2017 following backlash over its verification of a white supremacist.

    But why would someone complain about that? Marking the account not-verified doesn't magically stop them from holding those ideas nor does it stop them from posting them. Wouldn't you want to know that the asshole posting a bunch of racist things is who they say they are? Only thing I can think of is that the people complaining want to be able to create fake accounts that claim to be their enemies, so that they can justify going after those people.

    1. Re:But Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But why would someone complain about that?

      Because leftists wholly embrace the destruction of free speech.

      Righties pay lipservice to the idea, but let's face it, if retarded lefties were yanked off the Internet, they wouldn't complain.

    2. Re:But Why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'd certainly complain. Why wouldn't I want my enemies to have free speech? How else am I supposed to laugh at what they're saying if they can't run their mouths?

  13. There's no such thing as hate speech. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Insightful

    Yeah. I'm sure "bitchtits" it's really concerned with the decorum of the Internet.

    Anyway, there's no such thing as hate speech; there is no such thing as incitement to/of violence. You are either violent or you are not.

  14. Censorship is bad, mmkay? by sideslash · · Score: 1, Insightful

    I don't use Twitter, primarily because I refuse to submit to their censorship. Twitter is concerned with nanny like oversight of its users political views and affiliations. They censor some people from telling the truth (particularly right leaning), because it is perceived to hurt other people's feelings. Meanwhile they turn a blind eye to (particularly left leaning) hordes of the most obnoxious trolls posting hateful garbage. Twitter replies to any public figure are usually just about as edifying to read as any popular YouTube channel's comment section, particularly if you aspire to be edified by meaningless schoolyard level taunts. Whenever a journalistic publication attempts to manufacture news with a lead like "Twitter users criticize XYZ" they are just showing either their naivety, or perhaps what a slow news day it is.

    1. Re: Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      As a New Zealander I looked for what I could best do in response the murders of my fellow citizens. The message from the survivors is "this started with hate speech. Call it out when you see it, stop it spreading, we should all be bettr than this, don't be complicit."

    2. Re:Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Ahh, bothsiderism! *chef kiss*

    3. Re:Censorship is bad, mmkay? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      "Nanny like oversight" doesn't really fit with "turn a blind eye to hordes of the most obnoxious trolls posting hateful garbage", does it?

      The "Twitter users criticize XYZ" thing is mostly just fake meta-outrage. There's a whole industry.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    4. Re:Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Twitter replies to any public figure are usually just about as edifying to read as any popular YouTube channel's comment section, particularly if you aspire to be edified by meaningless schoolyard level taunts.

      Which is why verification is so important: if you're verified, you basically don't see non-verified users. All those replies from random people? Completely filtered. It's part of the not-so-secret features verified accounts get that regular user accounts don't. Verified accounts see a heavily filtered version of Twitter and are provided with a bunch of tools to help with that, which non-verified accounts aren't allowed to use.

      Likewise, verified accounts are automatically boosted in searches while non-verified accounts are effectively penalized. Sure, it's possible for someone without a verified account to manage to show up in searches, but the easiest way to do that is to be quoted or retweeted by verified accounts. Verified accounts are essentially treated as "special" by Twitter, and "positive" interactions with them are pretty much the only way for non-verified accounts to show up. It's why removing someone's verification can, and has, been used as a punishment: it actively limits what they can do. No matter how much Twitter claims "verification is not endorsement" they still treat the blue checkmark as a mark that someone is "special" and immune to the rules.

    5. Re:Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ALL of these so called social platforms are designed for idiots.
      I really hope all of them get hacked and all messages end up in a searchable database.

    6. Re: Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Of course the muslim invaders want to censor the opposition.

    7. Re:Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Haha... Right leaning people telling the truth. That's a good one.

    8. Re: Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I briefly used Twitter back when it was very new, around 2007. One of my first few tweets - containing the serial number of a leaked secret law document - was censored. I have not used Twitter since then.

    9. Re:Censorship is bad, mmkay? by sound+vision · · Score: 2

      They censor people when it's perceived to harm their business. They made a determination that having swastikas on their platform is worse for business than having Taylor Swift - makes sense to me. When a government censors, that's usually going to be some kind of ideological thought control. Twitter's concern extends only to their brand image.

      Of course, they still end up with egg on their face from the verification fiasco. Half-hearted disavowals of racism and stark displays of nepotism - they seem to be taking a page from our head of state. Funnily enough, he also gets special treatment in bending Twitter's rules. So much for left-wing bias. He's just another A-list celeb they need to have to keep their brand relevant.

      None of this surprises me or even really bothers me. They could ban everyone tomorrow and I wouldn't blink. They'd all move to some new, probably better alternative. There must be a teeming, untapped market for "freedom"-focused social media, right?

    10. Re:Censorship is bad, mmkay? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      "Nanny like oversight" doesn't really fit with "turn a blind eye to hordes of the most obnoxious trolls posting hateful garbage", does it?

      No, it doesn't, and that's the point you keep missing. The rules are being inconsistently applied. For "Infraction XYZ", the right gets banned immediately, the left get the benefit of the doubt, or the "we-have-to-look-at-the-context" bullshit from Jack's Vajayjay.

  15. It will cost you just a nickel by WillAffleckUW · · Score: 1

    or was that a pound of flesh?

    --
    -- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
  16. No. Twitter gave Cancer a voice, and banned Chemo. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Chemo is pretty disgusting, but it's the only effective way we know how to kill cancer.

    Unfortunately, Twitter banned Chemo, so now the cancer has gone stage 4.

    People can deny Chemo, but they cannot deny Cancer.

  17. Utility? Publisher? by AHuxley · · Score: 2

    A utility would just pass comments between people.
    A publisher now wants control over who can say what. Control over the politics of every account.
    Social media becomes the owner and publisher of its users comments.
    But still expects the full protections of only been a utility with every user still fully responsible for their comments.
    Only some people may publish and be approved to publish.

    --
    Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
  18. You're a New Zealander who spells it "citizens"??? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This all started (and ended) with a nutcase flinging chunks of metal through people.

    Speech or no speech, it's the violence that is problem. If anything, freer speech would have exposed this nutcase earlier.

  19. Twitter is a biased pice of crap by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Its run by sjw nazi techno fascists.. anyone using that platform has a serious lack of intelligence.

  20. Wankers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Well if they have the blue check mark, there is a good chance they are wankers. Only wankers gets those verified marks.

  21. anyone who uses Twitter should be raped and killed by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    In that order

  22. Wow, I'm shocked ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Celebrities, and others with backchannel connections to the company, are able to become verified as Twitter ignores everyday users and those without insider access.

    Makes sense.

    Twitter, which in part makes its money from drooling sheep following the every fart of the celebrities so we can give audience to complete morons .. well, this is profitable because these people generate more of the actual product: ad impression to the masses.

    Of course Twitter is ignoring every day users, they don't generate nearly as much fucking money as a verified celebrity account.

    Now run along sheep, I think one of your celebrities has vomited up something vacuous for you to read and swoon over.

  23. Maybe change verification to a notarized process? by kriston · · Score: 1

    Maybe change verification to a real process, like using a notary public to verify one's identity?

    That blue checkmark is an unnecessary status symbol. Twitter should be like any other service and only use the blue checkmark as a mundane notification that an account is the real person and not an anonymous troll or an impersonator.

    --

    Kriston

  24. Re:You're a New Zealander who spells it "citizens" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    The nutcase outright said "I'm doing this so you'll do X, Y, and Z" in his manifesto.
    The manifesto was banned (10 years for possession, 14 years for distribution, in NZ), and the NZ government did X, Y, and Z, achieving his goals.

  25. Authentic Bullshit. by geekmux · · Score: 1

    The company has said little publicly about verification, which it suspended in 2017 following backlash over its verification of a white supremacist.

    As a non-Twitter user, can someone explain to me the purpose of the blue check? I had assumed it was to verify a persons identity. Now it seems to be weaponized and abused to filter out people based on their ideology.

    Here's what Twitter says:

    "The blue verified badge on Twitter lets people know that an account of public interest is authentic."

    Authentically what? Liberal? Politically Correct? I'm not sure what's worse, the bias or the bullshit.

    1. Re:Authentic Bullshit. by q4Fry · · Score: 1

      I'm not on Twitter either, but I think you're being deliberately obtuse. The check mark indicates that an account is not someone posing as the ostensible owner. If I happen to successfully register "@SilvioBerlusconi" because no one had taken it yet, they'd make sure I was actually authorized by the Italian politician/businessman/crook to speak on his behalf before anointing the account with a check mark.

  26. Re:Proof of Twitter's Non-Corruption by DerangedAlchemist · · Score: 1
    Twitter's position in those interviews is consistent and does not show bias.

    I've watched that interview and others. The position of Twitter has been consistent and actually fits the facts of being reasonably non-biased. It just seems that way because the pattern recognition of harassment behavior, is flagging people in ways that seem to bias some arguments. They are actually just trying to promote productive discussions and discourage harassment as a means to win arguments.

    No one was banned because tweeted an 'N' at someone. They were banned because they used multiple twitter accounts, participating in harassing people by tweeting one letter of N-word at a time to people.

    Similar with the gender issue or dead naming. It was the behavior of attacking an individual, instead of an idea, that was flagging the bans. So it is the behavior, that would have gotten you banned with either left or right wing positions, that is getting the account penalties.

    Now to the anti-capitalist right wing whiners like Tim Pool, Twitter is under no obligation to destroy its shareholder value by keeping toxic people on its platform. It is not a public service and is not getting public money. (Just because a bible publishing company won't publish your gay porn book does not mean your free speech has been violated.) You are free create your own platform or make the government provide one. Saying that no one will use the new platform only proves that Twitter is correct in assessing that some people weaponize, what is technically free speech, to harass others out of the conversations.

  27. This story is JIDF too by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Literally go find out what the JIDF is if you don't know. Jews are not slick enough to shut it down. Hence the meme "shut it down" with a Jew and a walkie talkie. They always want to shut down people hating their lying asses. There is no such thing as antisemitism the word is a lie. Arabs are Semites too. Jewish is a religion, a fake religion. The Jews lied about this too and bitched it into a buzzword.

    https://twitter.com/superzar2000/with_replies