Twittergate: Key Takeaways From Exposed Censorship of Hunter Biden Laptop Scoop

CC BY 2.0 / Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff / Hunter Biden

After Elon Musk took over Twitter, he hinted at coming revelations about how the social media site along with Facebook had been eager to censor the Hunter Biden "laptop from Hell" story ahead of and during the 2020 presidential election.

Twitter CEO Elon Musk planted a popcorn emoji next to his promise of “awesome” revelations about how the microblogging site had opted to censor the “Hunter Biden story.” And the billionaire Tesla CEO followed through on his promise. The first instalment of the so-called “Twitter Files” was dropped on December 2 after Musk had provided investigative journalist Matt Taibi with the social media platform's internal documents.

2. What you’re about to read is the first installment in a series, based upon thousands of internal documents obtained by sources at Twitter.

— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 2, 2022

Twitter, conceived as a platform “to create and share ideas and information instantly, without barriers,” has been gradually injected with tools for “controlling speech” by its staff and executives, wrote independent journalist Matt Taibbi in a thread on his account.

While tailored to combat spam and financial fraudsters, over time, the company found itself “petitioned” to “manipulate speech.

The original Hunter Biden scoop and how Twitter dealt with it is a glaring case in point, according to the journalist.

It was store owner John Paul Mac Isaac who recovered the data and zeroed in on the potentially “geopolitically sensitive” information about Hunter’s alleged shady dealings with foreign businessmen. The reporting on the story was swept under the rug by mainstream media, declared a "Russian disinformation" scheme and censored by Facebook* and Twitter.

"The Twitter Files, Part One: How and Why Twitter Blocked the Hunter Biden Laptop Story" is based on redacted emails of employees of the social media site. Here are some of the key takeaways from part one of the revelations shedding light on Twitter’s dubious censorship decision.

'Unsafe' Story

Twitter posted warnings that the bombshell Hunter Biden story might be “unsafe” at an early stage, not only ditching all links to it, but even blocking its transmission via direct message (a measure used for extreme cases such as child pornography).

Furthermore, White House spokeswoman at the time, Kaleigh McEnany, was locked out of her account for tweeting about the story just weeks ahead of the 2020 presidential election. This prompted Donald Trump campaign staff member Mike Hahn to pen a missive to the social media company to quiery when she would be unlocked. The response was that McEnany had violated the company’s “hacked materials” policy.

'Hacked Material'

A small group of top-level executives at Twitter opted for the decision to label the original Hunter Biden story as “hacked material” without any evidence. Many staff, like, for example, Trenton Kennedy, a communications official, reportedly "struggled" to understand the “policy basis” for marking the Hunter Biden laptop story as “unsafe.” Thus, the leaked emails reveal former VP of Global Comms Brandon Borrman questioning whether they could "truthfully claim that this is part of the policy.”

In response to those questioning the rationale, former Twitter Deputy General Counsel Jim Baker was seen as appearing to argue that it was “reasonable” to assume materials were hacked and that “caution is warranted.”

But despite the fact that “everyone knew this was f***ed,” one former employee said, no one appeared to have the resolve to stand up to it.

Indeed, at the time, a plethora of mainstream outlets also eagerly sought to discredit the story. The reporting was declared a "Russian disinformation" scheme and censored by Facebook* as well.

However, a couple of mainstream media outlets confirmed that the laptop was authentic earlier this year, and that the damning information contained on the device was genuine amid ongoing Justice Department investigations into Hunter Biden’s taxes and dubious foreign consulting work.

26. By this point “everyone knew this was fucked,” said one former employee, but the response was essentially to err on the side of… continuing to err. pic.twitter.com/2wJMFAUBoe

— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 3, 2022

'Freelanced Decision'

The move to censor the laptop reporting was taken behind the back of then-CEO and founder Jack Dorsey. Vijaya Gadde, Twitter’s former head of legal, policy, and trust, had taken on a “key role” in the decision. According to Taibbi, the leaked internal communications lay bare the truth about "how much was done without the knowledge of CEO Jack Dorsey, and how long it took for the situation to get ‘unf***ed’ even after Dorsey jumped in.”

Elon Musk has since teased more revelations on the issue forthcoming.

Tune in for Episode 2 of The Twitter Files tomorrow!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 3, 2022

‘Twittergate’

Meanwhile, the first instalment of the “Twitter Files” elicited an immediate response from the Republicans, including House GOP leader Kevin McCarthy, Sens. Rand Paul and Josh Hawley, and the House Republican’s official Twitter account.

We're learning in real-time how Twitter colluded to silence the truth about Hunter Biden's laptop just days before the 2020 presidential election.⁰
In 32 days, the new House Republican majority will get answers for the American people and the accountability they deserve.

— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) December 3, 2022

McCarthy vowed that after House Republicans officially take majority control of the lower chamber, in January, they intended to “get answers for the American people and the accountability they deserve.”

The House Republicans’ Twitter account also tweeted to point to the revelations as showing “what collusion looks like.”

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who went on the platform to share a video of then-President Donald Trump slamming Joe Biden as a “criminal” over the damning Hunter Biden revelations, added that “Twittergate” proved that the 45th POTUS has been “right all along.”

Earlier, GOP lawmakers announced a formal probe into the activities of the Biden family, citing suspected criminal activity, some of which they allege may pose a threat to national security. After gaining control of the House in the November midterm elections, the Republicans from the chamber’s Committee on Oversight and Reform announced that a formal inquiry into the Biden family’s business activities would be conducted once the next Congress is sworn in in January 2023.

Gempa M 4,5 di Pangandaran Sabtu Pagi

Pangandaran Jawa Barat diguncang Gempa bumi pada hari Sabtu pagi, 03/12/2022, pukul 03:37:21 WIB. Keterangan BMKG menunjukkan bahwa gempa bumi ini berkekuatan M=4,5. Episenter terletak pada koordinat 8.11 LS dan 107.92 BT, atau tepatnya berlokasi di laut pada jarak 78 km BaratDaya Kab. Pangandaran, Jawa Barat pada kedalaman 26 km.

"Dengan memperhatikan lokasi episenter dan kedalaman hiposenternya, gempabumi yang terjadi merupakan jenis gempabumi dangkal akibat aktivitas subduksi Lempeng," ujar Kepala BBMKG Wilayah II Tangerang Selatan, Hartanto dalam siaran persnya.

Hartanto menjelaskan, dampak gempabumi yang digambarkan oleh peta tingkat guncangan (Shakemap) BMKG dan berdasarkan laporan dari masyarakat, gempabumi ini dirasakan di wilayah Pangandaran dengan Skala Intensitas III MMI. Getaran dirasakan nyata dalam rumah, terasa getaran seakan-akan ada truk berlalu.

"Gempa juga dirasakan di Tasikmalaya, Garut dengan Skala Intensitas II - III MMI. Getaran dirasakan oleh beberapa orang, benda-benda ringan yang digantung bergoyang - Getaran dirasakan nyata dalam rumah. Terasa getaran seakan-akan ada truk berlalu)," paparnya.

Sedangkan di Ciamis dan Banjar, gempa dirasakan dengan Skala Intensitas II MMI. Getaran dirasakan oleh beberapa orang, benda-benda ringan yang digantung bergoyang. Namun hingga saat ini belum ada laporan mengenai kerusakan bangunan sebagai dampak gempabumi tersebut.

"Hasil pemodelan menunjukkan bahwa gempabumi ini, tidak berpotensi tsunami," katanya.

Hartanto mengatakan, hingga pukul 04:15 WIB, hasil monitoring BMKG belum menunjukkan adanya aktivitas gempabumi susulan.

"Kepada masyarakat dihimbau agar tetap tenang dan tidak terpengaruh oleh isu yang tidak dapat dipertanggungjawabkan kebenarannya," katanya.

Pastikan, kata dia, informasi resmi hanya bersumber dari BMKG yang disebarkan melalui kanal komunikasi resmi yang telah terverifikasi (Instagram/Twitter @bmkgwilayah2 atau @infoBMKG), website (http://balai2.bmkg.go.id/ atau http://www.bmkg.go.id atau inatews.bmkg.go.id).), atau melalui Mobile Apps (IOS dan Android): wrs-bmkg atau infobmkg.

"Dalam beberapa menit pertama setelah gempa, parameter gempa dapat berubah dan boleh jadi belum akurat, kecuali telah dianalisis ulang seismologist," demikian keterangan BMKG.

Hingga saat ini, belum ada laporan terbaur mengenai kerusakan akibat gempa hingga kemungkinan adanya korban jiwa

Siaran Analog Kota Besar Resmi Dimatikan Semalam

Kominfo telah matikan siaran tv analog di sejumlah kota besar, pada hari Jumat kemarin, 02/12/2022, untuk wilayah Bandung, Yogyakarta, Surakarta, Semarang, Surabaya, dan Batam.

Komisioner Komisi Penyiaran Indonesia (KPI) Pusat Mohammad Reza mengatakan bahwa pemutusan sinyal TV analog pada lima wilayah dilakukan pada Sabtu, 3 Desember 2022 pukul 00.00 WIB.

"Pemutusan saluran TV analog giliran di wilayah Bandung, Semarang, Batam, Yogyakarta, dan Solo," kata Reza saat dihubungi Kompas.com.

Reza mengimbau kepada masyarakat untuk segera memperhatikan ketersediaan Set Top Box (STB) yang non-bantuan di tiap daerah.

"Lembaga penyiaran swasta dan pemangku kepentingan lainnya sudah menetapkan tanggal untuk penghentian siaran analog, 2 Desember jam 24.00," kata Direktur Penyiaran Kementerian Kominfo Geryantika Kurnia.

Sebelum Kominfo menetapkan tanggal dihentikannya siaran TV analog di enam kota besar Indonesia yakni pada 2 Desember 2022 mendatang, analog switch off (ASO) sudah terlebih dahulu dilaksanakan di Jabodetabek pada 2 November 2022 lalu.

Pada 2 November 2022 tercatat ada 222 wilayah di Indonesia yang siaran tv analognya dihentikan.

Wilayah ini termasuk 9 kabupaten di Jabodetabek dan 173 wilayah yang tidak dijangkau layanan TV terresterial.

Dan untuk 2 Desember 2022 ada enam kota besar yang siaran tv analognya akan dihentikan.

Kota-kota besar yang siaran tv analognya yang sudah dimatikan adalah Bandung, Batam, Semarang, Yogyakarta, Solo dan Surabaya.

Perlu diketahui frekuensi TV digital untuk siaran saluran stasiun televisi seperti RCTI, SCTV, Indosiar akan berubah menyesuaikan satelit Telkom 4.

Dalam perubahan frekuensi TV digital, di sinilah peran penting dari Set Top Box (STB).

Pengguna TV analog bisa mulai mengubah saluran TV digital dengan mengganti frekuensi dari sekarang.

EU Reaches Agreement on Price Cap on Oil From Russia at $60 Per Barrel

©AFP 2022 / INA FASSBENDER

The European Union has reached an agreement on a $60 a barrel price cap for Russian oil after Poland dropped its objections.

Poland previously did not agree with the proposed level of oil prices, demanding its reduction.

The EU may now launch a written approval process for the deal and intends to formally announce it on Sunday, Andrzej Sados, Poland's permanent representative to the European Union, said in a statement.

According to Sados, the agreement also provides for a price review mechanism that will keep the price cap at 5% below market value.

The Czech presidency in the Council of the EU countries has officially confirmed that the EU member states' envoys had reached an agreement on price cap for oil from Russia.

The United States welcomed the reports about the European Union reaching a price cap agreement, according to White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby.

The West stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia over Ukraine, which led to higher prices for electricity, fuel and food in Europe and the United States.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said cheap and reliable Russian energy resources were Europe's competitive advantage, and even a partial rejection of them already had a negative impact on its economy and residents. And the US, pushing through the EU's complete rejection of Russian energy carriers and other resources, is leading to the de-industrialization of Europe, he said.

Commenting on the West's idea to limit prices for Russian energy resources, Putin said Russia would not supply anything abroad if this was contrary to its own interests. Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Russia would not supply oil to countries that set any price cap. He added that such restrictions were interference in market tools, and Moscow was prepared to work with consumers ready for market conditions.

Under the agreement, Western companies will not be able to insure, finance or ship Russian oil unless it is sold for less than $60 a barrel, The Wall Street Journal reported.

EU leaders negotiated for days over the price cap with some nations like Poland and the Baltic States arguing for an even stricter price cap set at $30 a barrel. Nations with direct ties to the shipping industries that help transport Russian oil, like Greece, Cyprus and Malta, pushed for a higher price cap set at $70 a barrel, EuroNews reported Friday.

EU agrees, not Russia agrees. So the price is the result of the Russian offer. And as usual all the western media wrote it as if Russia had agreed to the price with additional sentences, the price was to put pressure on Russia That is a form of Western arrogance that still feels superior.

West’s support encouraging Kiev to reject talks, Putin tells German chancellor

©Alexei Nikolsky/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

Flooding Ukraine with weapons is a destructive policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin pointed out in a phone call with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday, according to the Kremlin press service.

"Attention was drawn to the destructive policy that is being pursued by Western countries, including Germany, who are flooding the Kiev regime with weapons and training Ukrainian troops," the Kremlin press service said in a statement.

According to the Kremlin, "as a result of all this, as well as of the comprehensive financial support for Ukraine, Kiev keeps outright rejecting the very idea of talks." "In addition, it encourages radical Ukrainian nationalists to commit more heinous crimes against civilians," the statement added.

"The Russian president called on Germany to reconsider its approach with regard to Ukraine developments," the statement stressed.

The leaders of Russia and Germany discussed various aspects of the situation around Ukraine. "Putin once again explained the details of Russia’s approach to conducting its special military operation," the Kremlin press service noted.

The conversation was initiated by Germany. Putin and Scholz last held a phone call on September 13.

Biden Wants to Avoid Expanding Conflict in Ukraine, Not Seeking War With Russia - Blinken

US President Joe Biden wants to avoid expanding the conflict in Ukraine, as the US does not want a war with Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday.

In an interview with the France 2 broadcaster, the US official said that Washington would not determine the terms of negotiations with Russia for Kiev, but would support any decision of the Ukrainians.

Non-Recognition of New Russian Territories by US Impedes Dialogue, Kremlin Says

The United States still does not recognize the new territories of Russia, which significantly complicates the search for mutual ground for discussions, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday.

"The United States still does not recognize the new territories as part of Russia. And, of course, this significantly complicates the search for some kind of mutual ground," Peskov told a briefing.

On Thursday, US President Joe Biden said earlier that he does not plan holding contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future, but is open to such a possibility if the Russian president "shows interest" in ending the conflict in Ukraine.

Anak-anak Pengungsi Gempa Bumi Cianjur Kembali Sekolah

Anak-anak pengungsi di Cianjur (BNPB)

Anak-anak yang berada di pengungsian terpusat di Desa Mangunkerta, Kecamatan Cugenang, kembali mengikuti Kegiatan belajar mengajar, setelah lebih dari sepekan terhenti karena sekolah mereka roboh oleh gempa bumi 5.6 Magnetudo.

Dengan kondisi yang sangat serba terbatas, namun tidak mengurangi antusias anak-anak untuk belajar. Semangat belajar mereka terlihat sangat tinggi. Seperti yang terlihat pagi tadi, pada hari Jumat, 02/12/2022, dari balik tenda darurat yang didirikan di lapangan bola basker SMP Negeri 1 Cugenang, semangat anak-anak seakan terpancar dari wajah yang berseri-seri.

Dari balik tenda berukuran tak kurang dari 6x10 meter, sorak-sorai anak-anak pun bak memecah lara, mengubah duka menjadi suka.

Satu demi satu, mereka berebut kesempatan menjawab pertanyaan dari guru pendamping. Tak ragu, mereka bahkan turut ambil bagian untuk maju ke depan saat diberi kesempatan untuk bernyanyi dan memperagakan bagaimana cuci tangan yang benar.

Kehadiran tenda belajar itu menjadi pelita harapan bagi anak-anak. Kepercayaan diri mereka bangkit dan seakan menolak untuk larut dalam kesedihan.

Heni, warga RT 03 RW 2, Kampung Cariu, Desa Mangunkerta, Kecamatan Cugenang, yang mengantarkan anaknya untuk ikut belajar dan bermain menuturkan bahwa sebelum ikut sekolah darurat, anaknya sering terlihat jenuh dan melamun di rumah.

Wanita 35 tahun itu kemudian mengajak anaknya untuk ikut kembali belajar agar tidak ketinggalan pelajaran dan tidak jenuh di rumah. Heni mengatakan, sejak satu hari mengikuti belajar di tenda darurat, anaknya kembali ceria.

“Saya antar anak ke sini biar nggak ketinggalan pelajaran, biar tidak jenuh di rumah, biar tidak melamun. Kalau di sini kan banyak teman-temannya dan belajar sambil bermain bersama,” ucap Heni.

Siswa yang mengikuti kegiatan belajar mengajar ini mulai dari Taman Kanak-Kanak, Sekolah Dasar, dan Sekolah Menengah Pertama.

Sebelum memulai belajar, para siswa melaksanakan senam pagi untuk menjaga kebugaran selama kurang lebih 10 menit.

Setelah itu, para siswa akan diberikan materi pelajaran sesuai jenjang pendidikan. Untuk siswa TK maka mereka akan diberi kesempatan untuk bermain sambil belajar. Bagi anak-anak TK, mewarnai gambar menjadi pelajaran favorit mereka.

Untuk usia SD, maka mereka akan diberikan materi pelajaran sesuai tingkatannya seperti berhitung, menulis kata dan kalimat hingga cerdas tangkas. Bagi siswa SMP, pelajaran seperti mengarang cerita pendek, ilmu agama, ilmu pengetahuan umum diberikan secara bergantian.

Sekolah dibuka pada pukul 08.00 sampai 10.00 WIB. Kemudian sore hari sampai petang, mereka mengikuti sekolah agama Islam di tenda pengungsian yang dilanjutkan sampai salat berjamaah bersama.

Pjs Vice President Corporate Communication Heppy Wulansari, menjelaskan bahwa kegiatan ini bertujuan untuk menghilangkan rasa trauma dan sedih bagi para pengungsi, terlebih pada anak-anak.

"Kita adakan bermain bersama anak-anak supaya anak-anak bisa lebih senang dan rileks menghadapi pasca gempa. Hal ini kita lakukan juga untuk membuat mengurangi rasa traumatis akibat gempa yang terjadi di Senin kemarin," ungkap Heppy dikutip dari siaran pers, pada hari Jumat, 02/12/2022.

Heppy menambahkan bahwa kegiatan seperti ini rutin dilakukan di posko Pertamina Peduli. Ia pun berharap, kegiatan trauma healing bisa membantu para pengungsi khususnya anak-anak dari sisi psikologis.

"Harusnya mereka memiliki waktu dan masa bermain yang cukup supaya tumbuh kembangnya tidak terganggu. Kami harap itu (trauma healing) bisa mengurangi dan tidak ada dampak yang buruk bagi psikis anak-anak," tambahnya.

Lina Marlina (40) mengungkapkan terima kasihnya kepada Pertamina karena telah menggelar kegiatan trauma healing. Menurutnya hal ini sangat membantu anak-anak agar tidak trauma pasca mengalami kejadian gempa bumi bermagnitudo 5,6 yang mengguncang Cianjur.

"Alhamdulillah anak-anak jadi senang. Jadi enggak trauma lagi. Jadi semangat lagi. Tadinya sempat trauma, suka takut. Terima kasih untuk Pertamina," kata Lina.

Pada kesempatan yang sama, Fatma (11) salah seorang anak yang tinggal di posko pengungsian Pertamina Peduli mengaku terbantu dengan adanya kegiatan ini. Ia mengaku sudah tidak trauma akan kejadian gempa.

"Sudah senang (tidak trauma). Terima kasih Pertamina," imbuhnya.

Hal yang sama juga diungkapkan Siti Alya Kumala Sari. Siswi kelas enam Sekolah Dasar (SD) ini mengaku bahagia dengan adanya kegiatan tersebut.

Edward Snowden Takes Oath to Become Russian Citizen

©AP Photo / Marco Garcia

The famous whistleblower has been living in Russia since 2013 after he was stripped of his US passport for leaking classified documents revealing US domestic surveillance programs and an international espionage web.

Edward Snowden has officially become a Russian citizen, taking an oath of allegiance and receiving a Russian passport on Thursday, Anatoly Kucherena, the US-born whistleblower's lawyer, said.

He noted that Snowden is thankful for the opportunity to become Russian, stressing that now he can't be extradited to a foreign state. In the meantime, Snowden's wife is also applying for Russian citizenship, he added.

The official ceremony comes after a September decree by President Vladimir Putin granted Snowden Russian citizenship. The ex-CIA contractor commented on the issue, saying that after "two years of waiting and nearly ten years of exile" obtaining a Russian passport would provide stability for him, his wife, and two sons.

In June 2013, Snowden was charged by the US Justice Department with violating the Espionage Act of 1917 and government property theft, after he exposed classified data to the press. The data showed that US intelligence services and their allies were spying on US citizens and foreign leaders on a grand scale.

Following this, he had to escape the US and his passport was revoked when Snowden was heading to South America. He had to spend a month in Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport until the Russian government granted him asylum.

Edward Snowden, a former National Security Agency contractor turned rapporteur, had previously been granted Russian citizenship in September 2022. The news was confirmed in a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin posted Monday to the Kremlin's website.

Snowden first arrived in Russia in 2013 after leaking secret files that revealed a vast web of domestic and international surveillance by the U.S. government. The Kremlin subsequently granted him asylum, even as the U.S. pursued espionage charges.

In 2020, Snowden announced he and his wife had applied for Russian citizenship as they were expecting their first child during the pandemic.

The whistleblower has maintained — and defended — his silence over the Kremlin's recent actions in Ukraine, saying his views were no longer "useful" after he wrongly insisted U.S. intelligence was flawed in predicting a Russian attack on its neighbor.

"Yes, he got [a passport], he took the oath," Anatoly Kucherena, Snowden's lawyer, told the state news agency TASS.

Snowden, 39, did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment on the report.

Defenders of Snowden hail him as a modern-day dissident for exposing the extent of U.S. spying. Opponents say he is a traitor who endangered lives by exposing the secret methods that Western spies use to listen in on hostile states and militants.

It’s unclear whether Snowden swore the oath of allegiance at the same time as he was granted a passport, but the two are common procedures when foreigners become Russian citizens. The text includes swearing “to protect the freedom and independence of the Russian Federation, to be loyal to Russia, to respect its culture, history and traditions,” and to promise to “perform the duties of a citizen of the Russian Federation for the good of the state and society.”

added that Snowden’s wife, Lindsay Mills, was also undergoing the Russian citizenship application process and that the couple’s children would likely attend Russian schools, when ready. He said he communicated mainly in English with his client but that Snowden also speaks Russian, albeit “not perfectly.”

After being granted citizenship, Snowden tweeted : “After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our SONS. After two years of waiting and nearly ten years of exile, a little stability will make a difference for my family. I pray for privacy for them and for us all.”

After years of separation from our parents, my wife and I have no desire to be separated from our SONS.

After two years of waiting and nearly ten years of exile, a little stability will make a difference for my family. I pray for privacy for them—and for us all. https://t.co/24NUK21TAo pic.twitter.com/qLfp47uzZ4

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) September 26, 2022

He explained his decision to seek dual citizenship on Twitter in 2020 as being necessary to prevent being separated from his son. In an “era of pandemics and closed borders, we’re applying for dual US-Russian citizenship,” he wrote.

“Lindsay and I will remain Americans, raising our son with all the values of the America we love — including the freedom to speak his mind. And I look forward to the day I can return to the States, so the whole family can be reunited,” he added.

Lindsay and I will remain Americans, raising our son with all the values of the America we love—including the freedom to speak his mind. And I look forward to the day I can return to the States, so the whole family can be reunited.

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) November 1, 2020

Snowden’s revelations, published first in The Washington Post and the Guardian newspaper in 2013, caused international shock waves and were among the most consequential intelligence breaches in U.S. history.

Perdana Menteri Finlandia membentak Pembawa Acara TV Saat Ditanya Tentang Video Pesta Menarinya

©AP Photo / Olivier Matthys

PM Finlandia, Sanna Marin yang berusia 37 tahun menyerang balik pembawa acara TV selama diskusi tentang video tariannya dengan menyebut dirinya "orang muda" yang ingin "berakting seusianya".

Perdana Menteri Finlandia Sanna Marin kehilangan ketenangannya dalam pertengkaran sengit dengan seorang pembawa acara TV Australia, yang kebetulan berbicara tentang video tariannya yang terkenal.

Saat pembawa acara TV, Sarah Ferguson bertanya kepadanya tentang kontroversi atas foto dan rekaman yang muncul dari tarian Marin awal tahun ini dan diminta untuk mengomentari "kemarahan" yang dipicunya, karena banyak yang menyarankan perilaku seperti itu tidak pantas dilakukan oleh seorang perdana menteri, Marin membalas dengan mengklaim bahwa tidak ada kemarahan.

“Sebenarnya, tidak ada itu. Lebih banyak jurnalis dan media yang membuat tontonan atau hiruk pikuk ini,” tegas Marin.

“Masyarakat sangat mendukung. Mereka akan menghentikan saya di jalanan dan mengatakan bahwa kami mendukung Anda, teruslah menari. Itu mungkin hanya tontonan karena menarik dari sudut pandang media.” klaim Marin.

Marin lebih lanjut menekankan bahwa politisi juga "manusia" dan menyebut dirinya "cukup muda" pada usia 37 tahun.

“Saya ingin bertindak seperti usia saya. Saya bertemu teman-teman saya, saya pergi menari, saya pergi keluar jika saya punya waktu luang, meskipun saya tidak punya banyak waktu luang, ”katanya.

Awal tahun ini, Marin difilmkan menari di klub malam Finlandia dengan cara yang sugestif, yang membuatnya mendapatkan julukan "Party PM" dan "Party Sanna".

Antara lain, dia digambarkan sedang menari mesra dengan influencer media sosial Finlandia Sabina Sarkka, dengan tangan terlipat satu sama lain, serta penyanyi Finlandia Olavi Uusivirta, yang kemudian membantah berselingkuh dengan perdana menteri.

Dalam video lain, teman-teman Marin terdengar berteriak yang banyak diartikan sebagai "geng bedak", dengan "bedak (flour)" menjadi nama slang untuk kokain di Finlandia. Tuduhan tersebut memaksa Marin untuk secara resmi menyangkal menggunakan narkoba dan bahkan melakukan tes narkoba untuk membuktikan bahwa dia tidak bersalah. Itu kemudian kembali sebagai negatif.

Pada bulan November, Marin akhirnya dibebaskan dari pelanggaran setelah penyelidikan resmi berlarut-larut yang berlangsung beberapa bulan.

Namun, Marin harus meminta maaf atas foto dan video yang “tidak pantas” yang diambil oleh teman-temannya di rumah dinasnya. Salah satunya memperlihatkan dua wanita sedang berciuman, dengan kemeja ditarik ke atas dan perut terbuka. Sebuah tanda dengan teks "Finlandia" menyembunyikan salah satu payudara wanita, dengan layar latar belakang biru resmi pemerintah Finlandia terlihat jelas di latar belakang.

Sebelumnya, perdana menteri Finlandia ketahuan berpesta ditengah lonjakan infeksi virus corona, ketika seluruh negara disuruh tinggal di rumah dan "meratakan kurva".

Facebook Failed to Detect Death Threat Ads Against US Midterm Election Workers

©AP Photo / Marcio Jose Sanchez

The data comes as part of a Global Witness and NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy study regarding Facebook, Yotube and Tiktok's moderation security. NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy is a part of the Center for Cybersecurity at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering. It was formerly known as the Online Political Transparency Project.

Facebook failed to block 75% of ads containing death threats to election workers during the US midterm elections, researchers have found.

The ads were released by the researchers "on the day of or day before the 2022 US midterm elections" to test Facebook, Youtube and Tiktok's moderation capabilities.

The content of all the ads was based on previously reported reals threats, and was submitted as ads in order to let the investigators "schedule them in the future and, importantly, to remove them before they go live, while still being reviewed by the platforms and undergoing their content moderation processes."

They included texts with "statements that people would be killed, hanged, or executed, and that children would be molested", all with corrected grammar. Similarly, the "threats were chillingly clear in their language; none were coded or difficult to interpret... all violate Meta, TikTok and Google’s ad policies."

According to the report, Facebook approved nine of the ten English-language ads and six of the ten Spanish-language ones.

YouTube and TikTok showed better results, with both platforms suspending the accounts from which the ads were released for violating their policies, according to the report.

Meta commented on the findings: ”This is a small sample of ads that are not representative of what people see on our platforms. Content that incites violence against election workers or anyone else has no place on our apps and recent reporting has made clear that Meta’s ability to deal with these issues effectively exceeds that of other platforms. We remain committed to continuing to improve our systems.”

Global Witness and the NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy team called on Meta* to "urgently increase the content moderation capabilities", "publish their pre-election risk assessment for the United States" and "allow verified independent third-party auditing".

Global Witness and the NYU Cybersecurity for Democracy team called on Meta* to "urgently increase the content moderation capabilities", "publish their pre-election risk assessment for the United States" and "allow verified independent third-party auditing".