Twitter labels Trump's tweets with a fact check for the first time

[Ponietz]

Source: Washington Post

Twitter on Tuesday slapped a fact-check label on President Trump’s tweets for the first time, a response to long-standing criticism that the company is too hands-off when it comes to policing misinformation and falsehoods from world leaders.

The move, which escalates tensions between Washington and Silicon Valley in an election year, was made in response to two Trump tweets over the past 24 hours. The tweets falsely claimed that mail-in ballots are fraudulent. Twitter’s label says, “Get the facts about mail-in ballots,” and redirects users to news articles about Trump’s unsubstantiated claim.

The tweets, said Twitter spokeswoman Katie Rosborough, “contain potentially misleading information about voting processes and have been labeled to provide additional context around mail-in ballots.”

The label directs users to articles by CNN, The Washington Post and the Hill, along with selections from the articles and a page summarizing the findings of fact-checkers.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/05/26/trump-twitter-label-fact-check/

[bucolic_frolic]

1. It as always been a war for credibility

Fake News! From the first moment Trump threw down the gauntlet, I knew it would come down to an issue of credibility. Trump wants the right to lie about everything. He generates his own fake news and blames everyone else for creating fake news. A war for legitimacy.

Confront Trump with Actual News. Facts. This is an important step by Twitter. Context. Facts. Sources. All without calling Trump a liar directly.

I thought "The Liar Tweets Tonight" song might prick Trump's bubble. He doesn't know anything else but to play this game.

[ScratchCat]

2. This doesn't help

And probably makes it worse. Why?

Because the Trump Cult will see "fact check" label, see the link to CNN articles, say "Fake News" and conclude Scarborough killed a woman 20 years ago.

Way to go, Twitter!!!

[lagomorph777]

16. That's a very weak "fact check." It should say "this is false - see for yourself:""

But Twit and Falsebook make most of their money on lies and privacy violations. We need to shut them down.

[JonLP24]

17. I think the reason why is Twitter is sserious when it comes to misinformation about elections

If me or you told blatant lies about the election process we would probably be banned.

[Botany]

3. Twitter spokeswoman Rosborough, "contain potentially misleading information about voting processes "

Vlad can not tamper with mail in ballots and Trump and the republicans know that and they
are freaking out.

Link to tweet

[Ford_Prefect]

4. I think they should have banned him years ago, as they have other liars and propagandists.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Once. Out of thousands of lies, they tagged just one.

It's a start but not a very impressive one. They didn't even do anything about Trump's slanderous and hurtful tweets about Lori Klausutis, the Scarborough staffer. There's the least they could do - and Jack Dorsey managed to do less.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. Exactly. Media has granted this buffoon unlimited air time for 6 years, he still screams "UNFAIR!"

What cold calculating Drama Queen. Always the victim, fainting damsel in distress.

[machoneman]

6. A Twitter screen shot of the re-direction please? Not on Twitter but I'd like to see.....

what they did with the footnote. Thanks!

[Gothmog]

7. twitter should ban trump

[truthisfreedom]

8. A pathetic, half-hearted start

[JudyM]

10. Better than nothing.

At least it raises questions for the less-informed.

Nice sig, BTW.

[Ponietz]

19. It's a warning label

🙏

[Hugin]

11. The word "So?" comes to mind. n/t

[Steelrolled]

12. As much as Trump deserves it, I think this is a very dangerous precedent.

I wish Twitter would not be the major source of political news, but given it is, I would not want Twitter to be the editor of direct statements from elected officials.

[obamanut2012]

14. yawn

[TommyCelt]

15. I agree. This sets a dangerous precedent

With VERY little payoff. We know trump lies. Trump's supporters know he lies (they simply don't care). I cannot stand seeing him or hearing him or anything he tweets; I personally have him blocked.

However, what kind of criteria is Twitter using to select this one tweet out of the thousands upon thousands? What kind of criteria will they use against Biden and any other Democrat/progressive candidates (let's be honest, they're ALL politicians and sometimes may be less than truthful). If this was out of the blue... I'm sorry to say Twitter IS being biased. And as rancid as this trump is, that simply is dirty pool and will harm the effort to remove him from power.

He has another red-meat distraction for his base - their boy is being CENSORED and "Holy 1st Amendment, Batman" and fake news, ad nauseum. In the middle of a pandemic.

[JonLP24]

18. This was misinformation about the election

Social media said they would clean that up due to Russian interference misinforming people about election dates and such like that. I'm not a Twitter spokesman just going based off memory but it would make sense why they would direct people toward accurate election information.

[TommyCelt]

20. That's a fair point...

...but now this trump has a massive distraction.

Drafting executive orders against Twitter and Facebook. Doesn't mater that legally they won't pass the snuff test. This BS is what will dominate the headlines, this is what will fuel his rabid followers basest tendencies, and the idiotic Q-anons will scream louder about the "deep state". Real issues like pandemics, people dying and losing jobs, and police brutality will get drowned out.

This is a gift handed to this trump with a big red bow.

[Omen78]

13. I would like to point out....

Republicans committed voter fraud via mail in absentee ballots in NC.

https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746800630/north-carolina-gop-operative-faces-new-felony-charges-that-allege-ballot-fraud

So it does happen....