The FBI acted as an intermediary between Twitter and U.S. Intelligence agencies "that seem displeased" following a report by the social network that they "had not observed much recent activity from official propaganda actors on [its] platform." In subsequent internal emails, the company's then Head of Security and Trust, Yoel Roth, went so far as to acknowledge feeling "frankly perplexed by the requests here, which seem more like something we'd get from a congressional committee than the Bureau."
7.Roth, receiving the questions, circulated them with other company executives, and complained that he was “frankly perplexed by the requests here, which seem more like something we'd get from a congressional committee than the Bureau.” pic.twitter.com/SrLrdZLREa
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 18, 2022
Questions to Twitter executives in writing
Following a Twitter report on accounts suspected of spreading propaganda online, especially foreign ones, the social network indicated it didn't find much. "San Francisco FBI agent Elvis Chan tells Twitter executive Yoel Roth to expect written questions from the Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF), the inter-agency group that deals with cyber threats."
https://t.co/mz7AFoolHV July of 2020, San Francisco FBI agent Elvis Chan tells Twitter executive Yoel Roth to expect written questions from the Foreign Influence Task Force (FITF), the inter-agency group that deals with cyber threats. pic.twitter.com/V4zNYnF81W
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 18, 2022
Twitter accused of errors in the report
Based on the tone, the creators of the questionnaire sent to Roth, who were from the U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC), seemed upset with Twitter's analysis and demanded that the company explain the metrics, sources and type of research conducted to reach that conclusion. It even "included a bibliography of public sources - including a Wall Street Journal article - attesting to the prevalence of foreign threats, as if to show Twitter they got it wrong."
3.The questionnaire authors seem displeased with Twitter for implying, in a July 20th “DHS/ODNI/FBI/Industry briefing,” that “you indicated you had not observed much recent activity from official propaganda actors on your platform.” pic.twitter.com/VR3DdkRyOr
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 18, 2022
Call to "Elvis" to clear everything up
The Twitter executive's reaction is one of surprise and outrage, and he stated that he was uncomfortable with "the FBI (and by extension the IC) demanding written answers." Subsequently, in confidential emails to senior management, he claimed that this was a misunderstanding, so "the premise of the questions was 'flawed' because 'we have been clear that official state propaganda is definitely a thing on Twitter.' Roth recommends a phone conversation with Elvis "as soon as possible" to clear the air.
9.He then sent another note internally, saying the premise of the questions was “flawed,” because “we've been clear that official state propaganda is definitely a thing on Twitter.” Note the italics for emphasis. pic.twitter.com/cNzrjcMJfD
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 18, 2022
FBI "conduit of intelligence agencies"?
In this thread Taibbi emphasizes that "the idea of the FBI acting as a conduit for the Intelligence Community is interesting, given that many agencies are barred from domestic operations." In addition, the journalist took the opportunity to comment on the FBI's official response to the previous installment of Twitter Files. According to the agency, Elon Musk's disclosure is commonplace. In fact, it "regularly engages with private sector entities to provide information specific to identified foreign malign influence actors' subversive, undeclared, covert or criminal activities."
Taibbi told them that there is no evidence of this, however there is evidence of "requests for moderation involving low-followers accounts belonging to ordinary Americans- and Billy Baldwin."
13.That may be true, but we haven’t seen that in the documents to date. Instead, we’ve mostly seen requests for moderation involving low-follower accounts belonging to ordinary Americans – and Billy Baldwin.
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) December 18, 2022
