Free Speech, Justice

“Conspiracy Theorists…Attempting to Discredit the Agency”: The FBI Attacks Critics Objecting to its Role in Twitter’s Censorship System 

It is not clear what is more chilling: the menacing role played by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Twitter’s censorship program or its mendacious response to the disclosure of that role. This week saw another FBI “nothing-to-see-here” statement to the release of files detailing how it actively sought to suppress the Hunter Biden story before the 2020 election, gave millions to Twitter, and targeted even satire or tiny posts that did not conform with its guidelines.

The releases document what some of us have long alleged: a system of censorship by surrogate or proxy. The FBI has largely shrugged and said that there is nothing concerning about over 80 agents working on the censoring of posters, including many American citizens.

In the latest statement, the FBI stated it did not command Twitter to take any specific action when flagging accounts to be censored:

“We are providing it so that they can take whatever action they deem appropriate under their terms of service to protect their platform and protect their customers, but we never direct or ask them to take action.”

The files shows a previously undisclosed back channel of contacts where the FBI nudged Twitter to censor posters and Twitter proceeded to do so. Many are like the Nov. 10th email saying “Hello Twitter contacts, FBI San Francisco is notifying you of the below accounts which may potentially constitute violations of Twitter’s Terms of Service for any action or inaction deemed appropriate within Twitter policy.”

Notably, when four such accounts were given such purely discretionary, not-threatening-in-the-slightest flags, Twitter suspended three of the four accounts were suspended, and called for a review the fourth account flagged by the FBI for “possible civic misinformation.”

It is all just friendly chit chat from the “Public Sector Engagement Squad” at FBI’s San Francisco office.

The files also reveal a message to the former Deputy General Counsel (and former FBI General Counsel) Jim Baker revealed that Twitter collected $3,415,323 from the FBI.

“Jim, FYI, in 2019 SCALE instituted a reimbursement program for our legal process response from the FBI. Prior to the start of the program, Twitter chose not to collect under this statutory right of reimbursement for the time spent processing requests from the FBI. I am happy to report we have collected $3,415,323 since October 2019! This money is used by LP for things like the TTR and other LE-related projects (LE training, tooling, etc.).”

The FBI spokesperson said,

“The correspondence between the FBI and Twitter show nothing more than examples of our traditional, longstanding and ongoing federal government and private sector engagements, which involve numerous companies over multiple sectors and industries. As evidenced in the correspondence, the FBI provides critical information to the private sector in an effort to allow them to protect themselves and their customers.”

“The men and women of the FBI work every day to protect the American public. It is unfortunate that conspiracy theorists and others are feeding the American public misinformation with the sole purpose of attempting to discredit the agency.”

What is striking about this statement is that the FBI is now adopting the language of pundits on the left that any objections to its role in censorship is a “conspiracy theory.” Rather than acknowledge the concerns and pledge to work with Congress to guarantee transparency, it is attacking free speech advocates who are raising the concern that Twitter had become an agent of the government in censorship. Notably, Twitter itself now believes that such an agency relationship existed.

The statement shows an agency that is still engaged in framing public opinion and echoing the narrative being advanced by the White House.  There are some who would question whether “working every day to protect the American public” should include censoring the public to protect it against errant or misleading ideas. There was a time when that was not a “conspiracy theory.”

248 thoughts on ““Conspiracy Theorists…Attempting to Discredit the Agency”: The FBI Attacks Critics Objecting to its Role in Twitter’s Censorship System ”

  1. Unfortunately, you now see what we creamed from the rooftops during Trump’s Presidency. They are, and we’re doing everything within their power to take him out, short of a final solution. At least, many are waking up to this reality now.

  3. Unfortunately, this is no big surprise. The FBI should be scaled waaaaaay back and dismantled to a much smaller scale. Will that happen? No, no it won’t. The end of our country as we know it is very easy to see, you do not need to have a vivid imagination.

  6. Responding to George:

    The point is there was no probable cause of a past crime or even reasonable suspicion of any past crime by Christian minister Martin Luther King, Jr.

    The FBI seems to embrace a “Sainthood Test” – one can only exercise the 1st Amendment if perfect (a standard no human can meet). Nobody has to be a saint to exercise the 1st Amendment. Sinners have 1st Amendment rights also.

    King was targeted by J Edgar Hoover for his legal 1st Amendment activity. There was no legitimate criminal reason. Hoover in college belonged to a fraternity founded by Confederate General Robert E. Lee and was known to have racist views.

    In Cointelpro tactics, the FBI itself admitted to framing (manufacturing evidence) of Americans like MLK. Cointelpro tactics (like covert censorship and blacklisting) is targeting and defaming certain people, not investigations deriving from an actual crime.

    Recently in 2022, a documentary came out titled “God Forbid” about Jerry Falwell Jr. This is about Falwell’s open marriage
    with his wife and the pool boy. The pool boy says Falwell actually participated. There’s also a suggestion that Trump used this information (about Falwell) for political purposes.

    Not condemning or judging Falwell’s actions (none of our business what him & wifey do) but how can you judge MLK while ignoring Falwell?

    The point is the FBI never had cause to investigate Martin Luther King, Jr.

    1. In the absence of an effective rebuttal as to Martin King, your concession is accepted and considered a noble act.

      Thank you so much.

  7. An excellent essay by Dr. Robert Malone

    Yeats’ “Second Coming” seems most appropriate for summarizing the arc of this most disappointing of years. The cognitive dissonance is almost overwhelming, and yet we must somehow come to terms with the profound widespread loss of integrity which has become a defining characteristic of both US and global governance (not to mention corporate media).

    Somehow, we must come to terms with the unfortunate truth that our governments have deployed military-grade propaganda and psychological operations methods (designed for battling foreign adversaries) on their own citizens to shape thought, belief, and reality itself to comport with the interests of the US federal administrative state. The pervasive spying and censorship of the US and other western governments on their own citizens (somehow justified as necessary to “preserve democracy”) has become completely normalized, and few seem willing to even spare a moment to care.
    https://rwmalonemd.substack.com/p/confronting-a-naked-emperor?

    1. U.S. Constitution
      Article 2, Section 4

      The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors
      ____________

      But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

      – Declaration of Independence, 1776

  8. Some of us were optimistic, many years ago, when then newly appointed FBI Director James Comey required new FBI recruits to tour the “Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument” on the National Mall. He made new agents stand in front of the MLK statue.

    The reason Comey supposedly did this was to teach new FBI employees not to repeat “Cointelpro” tactics – like covert censorship. Comey was teaching the FBI employees to NOT be the “Morality Police” and NOT to repeat the abuses of J. Edgar Hoover.

    MLK was a Christian minister that advocated voting rights for African-Americans and advocated the system created by the Framer’s of the Constitution.

    A federal agency coercing a private company to violate speech that is legal under the 1st Amendment (doing it covertly) – is a violation of the 1st Amendment and violates the Oath of Office of every FBI official.

    The entire reason Comey required the MLK Monument tour was to teach new FBI employees to never do these sort of things again, which longterm damages the credibility of federal officials. There is no statue of J Edgar Hoover on the National Mall in Washington DC.

    1. James Comey was one of the most corrupt officials in American history who blatantly lied about the appropriateness of prosecuting Hillary Clinton, as but one example.

      “Although there is evidence of potential violations regarding the handling of classified information, our judgment is that no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case,” he said.
      ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      Martin Luther King was a fraud and a deceiver of his family, his congregation and the public.

      Martin Luther King was a charlatan, prodigious philanderer and a plagiarist.

      Martin Luther King was not a legitimate PhD and did not legitimately earn and obtain a doctoral degree as proven by a committee appointed by Boston University which “conducted the investigation with scholarly thoroughness, scrupulous attention to detail and a determination not to be influenced by non-scholarly consideration.”
      ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      “A committee of scholars appointed by Boston University concluded today that the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. plagiarized passages in his dissertation for a doctoral degree at the university 36 years ago.

      “There is no question,” the committee said in a report to the university’s provost, “but that Dr. King plagiarized in the dissertation by appropriating material from sources not explicitly credited in notes, or mistakenly credited, or credited generally and at some distance in the text from a close paraphrase or verbatim quotation.”
      …

      But the committee did recommend that a letter stating its finding be placed with the official copy of Dr. King’s dissertation in the university’s library.

      The four-member committee was appointed by the university a year ago to determine whether plagiarism charges against Dr. King that had recently surfaced were in fact true. Today the university’s provost, Jon Westling, accepted the committee’s recommendations and said its members had “conducted the investigation with scholarly thoroughness, scrupulous attention to detail and a determination not to be influenced by non-scholarly consideration.”

      The dissertation at issue is “A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.” Dr. King wrote it in 1955 as part of his requirements for a doctor of philosophy degree, which he subsequently received from the university’s Division of Religious and Theological Studies.”

      – New York Times, October 11, 1991
      _____________________________

      All laws must be strictly obeyed in a society of laws.

      Immigration and Naturalization law was clear and extant on January 1, 1863.
      _____________________________________________________________

      Naturalization Acts of 1790, 1795, 1798 and 1802 (four iterations)

      United States Congress, “An act to establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization,” March 26, 1790

      Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That any Alien being a free white person, who shall have resided within the limits and under the jurisdiction of the United States for the term of two years, may be admitted to become a citizen thereof…
      ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

      Moses led his people out of bondage and into the “promised land.”

      Is it not true that most abductees have one desire upon their release which is to immediately be returned to their home?

  9. JUDICIAL REVIEW

    DETERMINE THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ACTS OF THE BRANCHES

    SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION

    “MEN DO WHAT THEIR POWERS DO NOT AUTHORIZE” – “MEN DO WHAT THEIR POWERS FORBID”

    The singular American failure has been and remains the Supreme Court.
    __________________________________________________________

    U.S. Department of Justice
    Office of Justice Programs

    Judicial Review in the United States

    Annotation

    The legitimacy of judicial review and the judge’s approach to judicial review are discussed.

    Abstract

    The doctrine of judicial review holds that the courts are vested with the authority to determine the legitimacy of the acts of the executive and the legislative branches of government.
    _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Marbury v. Madison

    Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. (1 Cranch) 137 (1803), was a landmark U.S. Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review in the United States, meaning that American courts have the power to strike down [actions], laws and statutes that they find to violate the Constitution of the United States.

    – Wiki
    _____

    “…courts…must…declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void.”

    “…men…do…what their powers do not authorize, [and] what they forbid.”

    “[A] limited Constitution … can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing … To deny this would be to affirm … that men acting by virtue of powers may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid.”

    – Alexander Hamilton

  11. The FBI’s Mission needs to be
    narrowed back, to the days where it was primarily involved with the:
    U.S. Marshall, Secret Service, and D.O.J. Office of Justice Corrections
    Programs.

    They have gotten to widespread in their capacity, and many good Employees are suffering from the Mission Creep.

  12. Dear Prof Turley,

    While Ol’ Thomas Jefferson once said he would prefer “newspapers without government” before a “government without newspapers”, I think it’s safe to assume he was quite adamant there be no ‘government run newspapers’. .. and never ‘the twain’ shall meet.

    Therefore, afaict, ‘The Agency’ has no constitutional authority or means to ‘shape public opinion’, control ‘the narrative’, ‘echo White House’ talking points or declare anything a ‘conspiracy theory’ absent a more likely explanation (a ‘conspiracy theory’ implies a more likely explanation.).

    Ostensibly, the only way to accomplish that – shape public opinion and control the narrative – is through rational and authoritative argument. .. or a willing and compliant free press (i.e. by surrogate or proxy).

    ***

    “Your money is not charity,” Zelensky assured lawmakers in his address to Congress. “It is an investment in global security and democracy that we handle in the most responsible way. You can speed up our victory. I know it. Let the world see that the United States are here.”

  13. Poor big-wigs at the FBI! They want all to know that they (the so-called “leaders” of the FBI) are victims! Those who engineered a financial and political romance with Twitter’s lefties are left with no legitimate explanations for what they did – and can just whine that they are victims! I cannot imagine how the good ad decent Americans who WORK at the FBI feel since they are controlled by these whiners.

  14. OT, PSA,

    NOAA is reporting this weekends arctic blast is a “once-in-a-generation type event.”

    For all those in the path of this storm, and it is expected to reach into the deep south, I encourage everyone to stock up on non-perishables, charge the batteries on the rechargeable flash lights or get extra batteries. Check your back up generators and fuel supplies. Using candles, also keep a few fire extinguishers handy. Pull out the extra blankets or sleeping bags. Fill up the tub to flush with in case of power outages. And fill up extra water containers for personal consumption. Make sure if you are using a camp stove for cooking, make sure you have fresh air to prevent CO2 poisoning.
    The temps NOAA is reporting, exposed skin can get frostbite in 10 minutes. Wear protective clothing when outside! Layers are your friend. Check on your elderly neighbors, shovel their walkways and drives.

    Everyone, stay safe.
    For me, we call this event, “Monday.”

    1. Additionally, if you have plumbing that may be exposed to freezing temps, open the taps to let just a little water flow to prevent freezing or busted pipes.
      Seen this first hand. NOT fun!

      We are expected for a winter wind advisory. Wind chill can kill faster than even negative temps. Again, cover exposed skin! Layers!

      Stay safe everyone!

      1. “Res Ipsa Loquitur” morphs into Mommy’s Weather Channel and Lonely Hearts Club.

        What’s next, matriculation affirmative action, grade-inflation affirmative action, employment affirmative action, quotas, welfare, food stamps, minimum wage, rent control, social services, forced busing, public housing, utility subsidies, WIC, SNAP, TANF, HAMP, HARP, TARP, HHS, HUD, EPA, Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Labor, Energy, Obamacare, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Social Security Supplemental Income, Medicare, Medicaid, “Fair Housing” laws, “Non-Discrimination” laws, etc., etc., etc.?

        Oops! That happened.

        I have an idea. Let’s get rid of the Constitution and Bill of Rights and impose the Communist Manifesto – “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs” – and we’ll throw in a heaping spoonful of weather mitigation and compensation to boot. Only the glorious State is capable of taking care of human beings, womb to tomb.

        “All Hail Karl Marx,” Abraham Lincoln. https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/iwma/documents/1864/lincoln-letter.htm

        1. George,
          I get what you are saying, but you would be surprised at how many Americans are not prepared for even a minor emergency.
          The majority of Americans cannot afford a $400 emergency. They would have to resort to CC or loans from friends or family.

          A recent poll showed 63% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.
          47% of those making one hundred thousand or more are living paycheck to paycheck.

          How many Texans had to go without power for a week or more in the 2021 power outage? How ill prepared were they?

          Inflation is at 7.1%. Using the old method of measuring inflation, that would be closer to 17%, and is likely a more accurate measure. How many Americans can afford that kind of inflation rate from food, to gas, rent, utilities, and have anything left over to put into savings?

          It is not lost on me that Biden was touting the million + job numbers pre-midterms when in reality it was only 10,000 jobs per the Philly Fed.

          BTW, food inflation is going to get worse next year.
          Gas may not be far behind.
          What it all means is more pain for the average American. Of the civil strife kind.

          1. Didn’t Nero play a violin while Rome burned. I know, this is nothing like that.

            1. Independent Bob —- No, Nero most certainly did not as there were no violins in his day. What he actually did do, when informed that Rome was burning, was travel rapidly rom his villa to Rome to direct the firefighting. Susequently he arranged for Rome to be rebuilt in stone.

              His story has largely been in the hands of his enemies. That’s what you fell for.

              1. I stand corrected, but like contemporary politicians he did take advantage of a crisis.

          2. Upstate Farmer,

            https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/12/gross-pelosi-proudly-holds-ukrainian-flag-house-chamber-zelensky-gives-kiss-cheek-video/

            Just Imagine if the US Citizens in need tell our so called Govt Leaders that they are Ukraine Nazis or Illegals & they need Cash.

            Tell the Govt that & those in need, they’ll have Another $$$ 1.7 Trillion in about a week!!!!

            But No, Citizens just keep getting crapped on as our Border is in Complete Collapse by illegals. What’s it going top be now 50 million year now flooding in?

            *****
            ( I didn’t bother watching the videos of Our Congress & Senate kissing that freak Ukraine Nazis’ Azz in public as it was much for me! I don’t have to be pro Russia to Hate Ukrainian Nazis.)

            https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/12/gross-pelosi-proudly-holds-ukrainian-flag-house-chamber-zelensky-gives-kiss-cheek-video/

            ***********
            I did watch this video of the Uk’ Nazis.

            infowars.com/posts/twitter-allows-neo-nazi-blood-soil-rituals-by-azov-battalion-to-herald-war-with-russia-but-bans-ye-for-posting-religious-unification-symbol/

            *********

            I suggest people call their govt Reps & tell them if they’re going to suck Ukraine Nazis rooster’s head in public the least they do the same for the Russians. Jeezzz, my how our nation has fallin.

          3. Upstate Farmer,

            Just Imagine if the US Citizens in need to tell our so called Govt Leaders that they are Ukraine Nazis or Illegals & they need Cash.

            Tell the Govt that & those in need, they’ll have Another $$$ 1.7 Trillion in about a week!!!!

            But No, Citizens just keep getting crapped on as our Border is in Complete Collapse by illegals. What’s it going top be now 50 million year now flooding in?

            *****
            ( I didn’t bother watching the videos of Our Congress & Senate kissing that freak Ukraine Nazis’ Azz in public as it was much for me! I don’t have to be pro Russia to Hate Ukrainian Nazis.)

            https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/12/gross-pelosi-proudly-holds-ukrainian-flag-house-chamber-zelensky-gives-kiss-cheek-video/

            ***********
            I did watch this video of the Uk’ Nazis.

            https://www.infowars.com/posts/twitter-allows-neo-nazi-blood-soil-rituals-by-azov-battalion-to-herald-war-with-russia-but-bans-ye-for-posting-religious-unification-symbol/

            *********

            I suggest people call their govt Reps & tell them if they’re going to suck Ukraine Nazis rooster’s head in public the least they do the same for the Russians. Jeezzz, my how our nation has fallin.

            1. You’re a nut who follows the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and now you’re falsely calling Zelenskyy a Nazi. I feel sorry for you and your family that you believe such garbage.

              1. I guess you also have 1 or more Swastika Tats or Carved in your skin like those Ukrainian Nazis in one of their latest videos like above.

                I’m thinking you need a few more mRNA Booster Shots & that’ll fix you right up for the NIH/NIAID/CDC/HHS. lol;)

                ******

  15. This is addressed to the FBI plants and/or surrogates/proxies who are embedded in this blog site and perusing both blog and commentary:
    Question regarding FBI contacts, communications, and financial transactions with Twitter:

    Please indicate your purpose/intent/rationale/for your persuasive communication, advice, payment and suggestions, and provision of specific Twitter postings/comments that you believe warranted such advice, payment, suggestion, or provision of specific Twitter postings/comments for Twitter consideration, action or “decision:”
    Please check all that apply:

    (1) imminent or likely danger that believing content would encourage overthrow of the government
    (2) imminent or likely danger that believing content would cripple financial markets and cause national collapse
    (3) imminent or likely danger that believing content would endanger the life/lives of national political figures or others
    (4) imminent or likely danger that believing content would endanger the reelection of Biden, challenge administration policies, or cause Democrats to lose Congressional control.

    3. Lin, Anonymous and Svelaz sure do sound like government agents in hiding don’t they? How else could they argue the things they do.

  16. Who ya going to believe, me or those lying documents? They will never admit wrong doing even when confronted with the evidence.

  17. “The men and women of the FBI work every day to protect the American public. It is unfortunate that conspiracy theorists and others are feeding the American public misinformation with the sole purpose of attempting to discredit the agency”. There’s no need to discredit the agency. Strozk, Clinesmith, Paige and Baker did a fine job all by themselves.

  18. Has anyone noticed that the FBI never did not include the Ayatollah Khomeini on the list of those who should be censored. It just goes to show how concerned the FBI was for our safety. The spirit of Strzok, Baker and Clinesmith still haunt the halls at the FBI. Instead of working hard to remove the stain the FBI just doubles down. Sorry for all this misinformation.

  19. Thinkitthrough appropriate refers to The Untouchables as an apt description.

    I was thinking the same thing, and another title (of a song) came to mind: “As Nasty As They Wanna Be”

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