Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) put Twitter on notice on Wednesday, calling on CEO Jack Dorsey to undergo a third-party audit of its suspension policies.Conservatives have long complained about seemingly arbitrary suspensions of their accounts ‐ most of which come with no explanation or meaningful ability to appeal. Most recently, the Twitter account for the pro-life movie Unplanned was suspended just as the movie was hitting theaters. When the account was restored, its administrators discovered that nearly 100,000 followers had disappeared. Users (myself included) reported trying to follow the account and immediately being forced to unfollow.
Hawley mentioned the episode in his letter to Jack Dorsey, saying that it raised "yet more questions about your supposed commitment to free speech."
"In light of these events, and in view of Twitter's history of de-platforming conservative voices, it is time for Twitter to open itself to a third-party audit of how and when the company enforces its suspension policies," Hawley wrote.
The senator, who has been a vocal proponent of investigating big tech companies, said that conservatives who advocate for the "dignity of all persons, regardless of size or age" are used to being treated unfairly by corporations. "But platform companies like Twitter are supposed to rise above that partisan nonsense."
Hawley reminded Dorsey of his 2018 commitment "to serve the public conversation" by "defending freedom of expression as a fundamental human right" at Twitter.
Social media platforms have been given a "sweetheart deal," according to Hawley, which includes "immunity from liability for illegal content posted by third parties." They were given special consideration, he said, because they promised to provide "a forum for a true diversity of political discourse."
Please. Twitter, Facebook and all their little inbred spawn need to be sued good and hard
The senator was referring to the telecommunication provisions in federal law that created separate rules for social media platforms that, unlike publishers, are not subject to civil liabilities for posting illegal material.
Hawley said that Twitter has repeatedly "abused" those privileges. "You often refuse to allow pro-life organizations to purchase ads because you deem it 'inflammatory' when these groups advocate for the right to life, but you allow those on the other side to advocate for late-term abortion‐a practice opposed by more than 80 percent of Americans," he said.