Buffoon of the Week Staff
Social media hypocrite Twitter has allowed screen shots of a supposed hack of its competitor Parler to remain on its platform unchecked
According to Twitter users, this photo tweeted by “Coping MAGA” proves that hackers have infiltrated the social media platform Parler. According to their account, the “Parler Hack” left the personal information of its users exposed.
As you may know, Parler has become the chosen landing site for many conservatives disgruntled with the actions of Facebook and Twitter. Therefore, anytime misfortune befalls a conservative, the left does a happy dance. Like actress Krista Allen:
But, the celebration appears to be premature, and the screenshot is not only fake, but a bad fake at that.
Twitter Leaves “Fake News” Of Its Competitor Unchecked Even After Debunked
The alleged “Parler hack” is a screenshot from a WordPress website that has been circulated repeatedly over the past 6 months, despite Parler’s multiple responses that we do not use WordPress products, nor WordPress databases. All of our databases are hidden behind multiple layers of security and are not accessible via the web. This is an irresponsible rumor which uses a “techie” looking WordPress config file which is only capable of confusing a journalistic hack, not an actual hacker. If Twitter continues to fact check others, they should also fact check posts such as these that spread viral misinformation. Furthermore, we don’t store any personal data, user verification data is deleted on completion, and direct messages cannot send videos/images. All allegations are fake. They are just obsessed with us.
— John Matze ?? ? John Tuesday, November 24, 2020
According to Parler CEO John Matze, the screenshot is not only fake, but an old fake.
Fake news about hacked materials? Where have we heard about that before? Oh, right. Didn’t Twitter lock the NY Post’s account for its Hunter Biden story because it contained supposedly “hacked” materials? Where are Twitter’s vaunted fact-checkers, who cracked down on real news?
With its inaction, Twitter allowed the hashtags #ParlerHack and #ParlerHacked to spread like wildfire. As of the time of this publishing, Twitter has allowed the fake screen shot to remain published.
Obviously, Parler investor Dan Bongino was furious at Twitter’s actions.
Our Take…
Aren’t you glad that Big Tech is here to protect you from the dreaded spread of disinformation? Especially when Big Tech chooses what to protect you from?
Tweet
Twitter’s choice – and make no mistake, it is a choice – to treat the fake Parler hack story as it did the true NY Post story is further proof that Twitter makes editorial decisions like a publisher. Moreover, the government would not be out of line to construe Twitter’s selective decision-making as a tactic intended to frustrate the growth of Parler, a clear competitor.
While Twitter has shown some bright-line rules for censoring certain content like doxxing, its inconsistent treatment is glaring. Twitter seems more permissive of “fake news” from the left than it is actual news from the right.
To paraphrase Senator Cruz: who the hell elected Twitter the arbiter of what the American people can see or hear?
If this latest episode doesn’t convince you that Twitter needs to be stripped of so-called “section 230” protections, nothing will.
