House GOPers demand answers from Twitter CEO about censorship, Robert Malone suspension – Washington Times

Over a dozen House Republicans sent a letter Friday to Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal threatening to hold social media companies accountable for censoring conservative voices.

The letter highlighted Twitters suspension of the account of Dr. Robert Malone, a researcher involved in the development of mRNA vaccines who has been critical of the vaccine program. The lawmakers said the reasons for Twitters censorship were not transparent and those who are banned or censored dont have a clearly available recourse.

For far too long, Big Tech companies, such as Twitter, have been able to censor important voices without recourse available to those affected, said the letter, which was spearheaded by Rep. Troy Nehls of Texas. While the 117th Congress has failed to address the need to update and modify Federal law and regulations impacting the internet and social media, it is highly probable that under new leadership in 2023, Congress will spearhead an effort to hold Big Tech accountable for its arbitrary censorship practices.

Twitter did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Dr. Malone has questioned the U.S. government and pharmaceutical industrys conduct responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and developing vaccines. Twitter banned him in early January after his tweets questioned the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines.

The ban came just three months after Mr. Agrawal took over the top job at the social media platform. Since then, several high-profile accounts were banned, suspended or their content was restricted. The recently targeted posts appeared to mostly involve COVID-19 or criticism of the Biden administration.

Censored Twitter accounts include those of Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green of Georgia, the Daily Wires Matt Walsh, the Blaze Media Podcaster Daniel Horowitz, Project Veritas Chief of Staff Eric Spracklen and scientist Michael Makris.

The Congress members asked Mr. Agrawal several questions about Dr. Malones suspension from Twitter including the specific post that Dr. Malone violated within Twitters COVID-19 misleading information policy that led to the suspension of his Twitter account.

They also asked if Twitters COVID-19 misleading information policy is synthetic and manipulated media policy changed since your becoming CEO? If so, would Dr. Malones account have been suspended under the prior policies for the same post?

The letter notes that one of Twitters stated principles is Making it straightforward. Simple is good, but straightforward is better. Our product, our behavior, and our work habits should all be transparent and to the point.

They also asked if Mr. Agrawal believes that suspending accounts without explanation complies with his companys principle of being straightforward and transparent?

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House GOPers demand answers from Twitter CEO about censorship, Robert Malone suspension - Washington Times