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VOICE ARCHIVE

Alex Stamos

@alexstamos
751 posts
2023-08-20
Removing blocking from a social media site doesn't only worsen the experience for almost everybody, but it totally changes the value of a fake account.
2023-08-20 View on X
The Verge

Elon Musk claims “block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs”, without giving any details, in a reply to a user's X post about block vs. mute

the ability to block trolls Metro.co.uk : Elon Musk plans to stop letting X (formerly Twitter) users block each other Jorge Aguilar / Android Police : The app formally known as Twi...

If a zero-follower account can continuously reply to large accounts and get engagement, running thousands of those accounts becomes more valuable. This isn't just about harassment, but also spam. Twitter is becoming a fantastic platform for organized spam and trolling operations.
2023-08-20 View on X
The Verge

Elon Musk claims “block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs”, without giving any details, in a reply to a user's X post about block vs. mute

the ability to block trolls Metro.co.uk : Elon Musk plans to stop letting X (formerly Twitter) users block each other Jorge Aguilar / Android Police : The app formally known as Twi...

2023-08-19
If a zero-follower account can continuously reply to large accounts and get engagement, running thousands of those accounts becomes more valuable. This isn't just about harassment, but also spam. Twitter is becoming a fantastic platform for organized spam and trolling operations.
2023-08-19 View on X
The Verge

Elon Musk claims “block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs”, without giving any details, in a reply to a user's X post about block vs. mute

Elon Musk says X's — formerly Twitter's — block feature is on the chopping block …

Removing blocking from a social media site doesn't only worsen the experience for almost everybody, but it totally changes the value of a fake account.
2023-08-19 View on X
The Verge

Elon Musk claims “block is going to be deleted as a ‘feature’, except for DMs”, without giving any details, in a reply to a user's X post about block vs. mute

Elon Musk says X's — formerly Twitter's — block feature is on the chopping block …

2023-01-26
My suggestion for how Twitter could lead the world in transparency regarding government censorship: https://twitter.com/... And Musk's feedback on the idea: https://twitter.com/...
2023-01-26 View on X
The Daily Beast

After an uproar, Twitter suspends US white nationalist Nick Fuentes' verified account, one day after lifting the Holocaust denier's ban that began in July 2021

both of whom were central to the “Stop the Steal” movement that culminated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol—have been suspended again. https://twitter.com/... @bonchieredst...

Now that Twitter is censoring users on behalf of the Modi government in India, I'm reupping this October prediction that Musk's international entanglements would be the Achilles heel of Twitter. Twitter should release all communications with governments regarding censorship. https://t.co/6P3ZYZY1A6
2023-01-26 View on X
The Daily Beast

After an uproar, Twitter suspends US white nationalist Nick Fuentes' verified account, one day after lifting the Holocaust denier's ban that began in July 2021

both of whom were central to the “Stop the Steal” movement that culminated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol—have been suspended again. https://twitter.com/... @bonchieredst...

Here is a conversation with @evelyndouek on what happened this week, and how this is a major departure from the unwritten policy of major US platforms to resist censorship requests that strike directly at core political freedoms. https://t.co/kx3O4AhTzl
2023-01-26 View on X
Wall Street Journal

Twitter reinstates some Hindu nationalist accounts popular in India, including some denigrating Muslims, and blocks links to a BBC documentary on Narendra Modi

cc @mtaibbi and @bariweiss, as I would love to see a Twitter files writeup on this decision or hear whether access to internal communications regarding Musk and critical countries like India and the PRC is refused.
2023-01-26 View on X
The Daily Beast

After an uproar, Twitter suspends US white nationalist Nick Fuentes' verified account, one day after lifting the Holocaust denier's ban that began in July 2021

both of whom were central to the “Stop the Steal” movement that culminated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol—have been suspended again. https://twitter.com/... @bonchieredst...

My suggestion for how Twitter could lead the world in transparency regarding government censorship: https://twitter.com/... And Musk's feedback on the idea: https://twitter.com/...
2023-01-26 View on X
Wall Street Journal

Twitter reinstates some Hindu nationalist accounts popular in India, including some denigrating Muslims, and blocks links to a BBC documentary on Narendra Modi

cc @mtaibbi and @bariweiss, as I would love to see a Twitter files writeup on this decision or hear whether access to internal communications regarding Musk and critical countries like India and the PRC is refused.
2023-01-26 View on X
Wall Street Journal

Twitter reinstates some Hindu nationalist accounts popular in India, including some denigrating Muslims, and blocks links to a BBC documentary on Narendra Modi

Now that Twitter is censoring users on behalf of the Modi government in India, I'm reupping this October prediction that Musk's international entanglements would be the Achilles heel of Twitter. Twitter should release all communications with governments regarding censorship. https://t.co/6P3ZYZY1A6
2023-01-26 View on X
Wall Street Journal

Twitter reinstates some Hindu nationalist accounts popular in India, including some denigrating Muslims, and blocks links to a BBC documentary on Narendra Modi

Here is a conversation with @evelyndouek on what happened this week, and how this is a major departure from the unwritten policy of major US platforms to resist censorship requests that strike directly at core political freedoms. https://t.co/kx3O4AhTzl
2023-01-26 View on X
The Daily Beast

After an uproar, Twitter suspends US white nationalist Nick Fuentes' verified account, one day after lifting the Holocaust denier's ban that began in July 2021

both of whom were central to the “Stop the Steal” movement that culminated in the January 6th attack on the Capitol—have been suspended again. https://twitter.com/... @bonchieredst...

2022-12-21
Mr. Musk's claims around the FBI paying for content moderation are false. Details: https://cybervillains.com/...
2022-12-21 View on X
The Intercept

Internal documents: from at least 2017, Twitter helped the Pentagon in its covert online foreign propaganda campaigns including by whitelisting CENTCOM accounts

Twitter executives have claimed for years that the company makes concerted efforts to detect and thwart government-backed covert propaganda campaigns on its platform.

Mr. Musk's claims around the FBI paying for content moderation are false. Details: https://cybervillains.com/...
2022-12-21 View on X
@alex@cybervillains.com

Elon Musk amplifies false claims that the FBI “paid Twitter millions” to “censor info from the public”; law enforcement reimburses companies for data requests

telecoms, banks, whatever—request reimbursement from the FBI and other agencies for time spent processing law enforcement's legal requests. This email is saying that Twitter had no...

2022-12-20
Our team looked at recent spam on Twitter in Chinese and determined that it is probably more a reflection of problems at Twitter fighting spam than a government operation. Also, good lessons on the risks of looking backwards at any abuse on platforms. https://twitter.com/...
2022-12-20 View on X
New York Times

An analysis shows how Chinese-language bots on Twitter drowned out tweets about protests over China's zero-COVID-19 policy, as people sought to evade censors

Twitter and its new owner, Elon Musk, have recently vowed to crack down on bots.  But the flood of spam for Chinese users …

2022-12-19
The EU has been looking to establish the new DSA and DMA as weapons against US tech and Twitter is making it too easy. You can follow me at https://cybervillains.com/@alex when I'm suspended for some post-hoc rationalization.
2022-12-19 View on X
Washington Post

Elon Musk's poll, asking “Should I step down as head of Twitter?”, ends with 57.5% voting yes, after Musk said Twitter polls will decide “major policy changes”

After a new policy prompted backlash, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said future policies would be determined by polls

This is the clearest declaration of weakness I've ever seen from a major US tech platform, and a transparent declaration of anticompetitive intent that a GC would set themselves on fire to prevent (if somebody had that job at Twitter). https://twitter.com/...
2022-12-19 View on X
The Verge

Twitter backtracks and Elon Musk apologizes after saying the service would remove tweets and accounts promoting their presence on Facebook, Mastodon, and others

Twitter will no longer allow users to promote their presence on certain social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Post.

This is the clearest declaration of weakness I've ever seen from a major US tech platform, and a transparent declaration of anticompetitive intent that a GC would set themselves on fire to prevent (if somebody had that job at Twitter). https://twitter.com/...
2022-12-19 View on X
Washington Post

Elon Musk's poll, asking “Should I step down as head of Twitter?”, ends with 57.5% voting yes, after Musk said Twitter polls will decide “major policy changes”

After a new policy prompted backlash, Twitter CEO Elon Musk said future policies would be determined by polls

The EU has been looking to establish the new DSA and DMA as weapons against US tech and Twitter is making it too easy. You can follow me at https://cybervillains.com/@alex when I'm suspended for some post-hoc rationalization.
2022-12-19 View on X
The Verge

Twitter backtracks and Elon Musk apologizes after saying the service would remove tweets and accounts promoting their presence on Facebook, Mastodon, and others

Twitter will no longer allow users to promote their presence on certain social platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Mastodon, Truth Social, Tribel, Nostr, and Post.

2022-12-10
Well, I finally got a response to my proposal that Musk address his concern for political interference by publishing a database of moderation actions and communications with government actors. I just literally don't know what it means. Proposal: https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
2022-12-10 View on X
The Hill

Bari Weiss releases “Twitter Files Part Two”, sharing images of accounts that Twitter allegedly put on “blacklists” and screenshots of internal Slack messages

all in secret, without informing users. Elon Musk / @elonmusk : @DavidSacks As @bariweiss clearly describes, the rules were enforced against the right, but not against the left Ash...