Here’s why the social media company took action against the President’s son, Jasmine Razeghi writes.
Twitter suspended Donald Trump Jr.’s account temporarily after he posted a video of a doctor falsely stating that masks are not necessary to prevent the coronavirus from spreading.
According to Twitter, “the Tweet requires deletion because it violates [Twitter’s] rules (sharing misinformation on COVID-19).” He will not be allowed to tweet for 12 hours.
What Did The Video Entail?
Breitbart News initially uploaded the video tweeted by Donald Jr. which went viral on Monday. It featured “America’s Frontline Doctors” making false claims related to COVID-19. For example, a woman in the video who identified herself as a doctor claimed that the studies that show hydroxychloroquine as ineffective were “fake science” sponsored by “fake pharma companies.”
The President himself retweeted multiple versions of the video on Twitter, but his account was not suspended nor were his posts flagged. Donald Trump Jr. uploaded the video himself to the social media site, which was grounds for removal, according to Twitter. Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube since removed the controversial video from their platforms.
Is Twitter “Killing Free Expression”?
The Spokesman for Donald Trump Jr., Andy Surabian, told the BBC, “Twitter suspending Don Jr for sharing a viral video of medical professionals discussing their views on Hydroxychloroquine is further proof that big tech is intent on killing free expression online, and is another instance of them committing election interference to stifle Republican voices.”
“While there is indeed much disagreement in the medical community about the efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine in treating coronavirus, there have been studies reported by mainstream outlets like CNN, suggesting that it may in fact be an effective treatment. Those pretending otherwise are lying for political reasons,” he added.
Twitter’s suspension of Donald Trump Jr.’s account comes as many pressure social media companies to crack down on false information. However, many could also see Twitter’s move as a form of censorship.