Associated Press
Twitter has temporarily halted President Donald Trump’s son from tweeting on its site after he shared a video riddled with unsupported claims about the coronavirus Monday.
Many Republicans reacted with outrage, filling social media with cries of “censorship,” after Donald Trump Jr.’s account was put on a timeout for sharing the video, which was viewed millions of times online in a matter of hours, reaching the president himself, before Facebook, Twitter and YouTube banned it. These social media platforms have zero-tolerance policies on posts that peddle potentially harmful untruths about the coronavirus.
Conservative media outlets, pundits and personalities promoted the video across Facebook and Twitter on Monday. It features pro-Trump doctors telling Americans they do not need to wear masks to prevent coronavirus while also pitching hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug the president has previously touted himself, as a sure-fire way to treat coronavirus.
The video directly refutes advice from Trump’s own medical experts, who have urged people to slow the virus’ spread by wearing masks and cautioned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat coronavirus. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently withdrew an order that enabled hydroxychloroquine to be used as an emergency treatment for COVID-19.
Trump’s son took to Twitter Monday night to share the misleading video with his 5 million followers, calling it a “must watch!!!”
Because it spread misinformation about treating the coronavirus, Twitter required Trump Jr. take down the video and put his account on a 12-hour timeout, a Twitter spokesman confirmed Tuesday. Trump Jr.’s profile is still visible, but he cannot tweet, retweet or like other posts during that time.
The president, meanwhile, only retweeted a post of the video, which has since been taken down. His account remains live.
Versions of the video are still circulating widely on platforms like Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, racking up millions of views. Facebook and Twitter said they have removed several versions and are working to take down others. YouTube also said it has removed the video from its site.
____
Republished with permission from The Associated Press.
3 comments
LINDIESUE
July 29, 2020 at 3:43 pm
So now we have doctors making these judgments at tech companies? It was info. by a group of doctors who have used Hydroxy, etc., reporting the results. The so-called tech doctors took away the availability for the public to hear what they had to say and make their own judgment. They have completely stifled free speech. Everyday, I see false information on many social media sites that don’t get moved. It is up to the public to decipher what they read and hear and judge for themselves. Period. Tech companies have taken that right away, but in this case, it has to do with a deadly virus and they shut the information down. Anyone who sides with squelching free speech is insane when it comes to our health and lives.
Dee
July 29, 2020 at 9:42 pm
If Trump and his family actually knew how to at least contain this virus they would be worth listening to. It would be nice to see them tweeting less and working more to help ensure that we don’t have to endure more needless deaths.
Also would be nice if they would mention the families who have lost loved ones instead of bashing people who genuinely know what they are doing to help contain this pandemic. I never thought I would see Americans lower their standards this low to accept this behavior.
If they are not up to this task, I suggest they golf more a tweet less….
Sonja Fitch
July 31, 2020 at 5:39 am
If a trump is near, run away!
Comments are closed.