Here We Go Again...

Twitter didn't like me quoting The Wall Street Journal

I was permanently suspended from Twitter this afternoon, after posting this tweet.¹

But this was not the tweet that locked my account.

It was this one, posted yesterday, directly quoting Allysia Finley of the The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board.

Ms. Finley’s July 4th op-ed/commentary is justifiably critical of emergency approval for the age 0-4 covid vaccine. Here’s the part I quoted:

Ms. Finley has not been active on Twitter since February, but two WSJ accounts posted her article yesterday too, without being censored. My quote is different from theirs, but the message equally damning of Biden Administration agencies, professional organizations, experts, and practitioners who have pushed for a speedy EUA.

The Wall Street Journal @WSJ

From @WSJopinion: Why the rush for toddler vaccines? Covid was clearly a health emergency for adults in 2020. By contrast, the urgency now feels political, writes @AllysiaFinley.

on.wsj.comOpinion | Why the Rush for Toddler Vaccines?Covid was clearly a health emergency for adults in 2020. By contrast, the urgency now feels political.

Wall Street Journal Opinion @WSJopinion

Why the rush for toddler vaccines? Covid was clearly a health emergency for adults in 2020. By contrast, the urgency now feels political, writes @AllysiaFinley

on.wsj.comOpinion | Why the Rush for Toddler Vaccines?Covid was clearly a health emergency for adults in 2020. By contrast, the urgency now feels political.

My friend Jennifer Sey also posted the article, excerpting what some might still consider controversial claims, but was not accused of breaking Twitter’s rules.

Jennifer Sey @JenniferSey

"The rushed FDA action was based on extremely weak evidence. It's one thing to show regulatory flexibility during an emergency. But for children, Covid isn't an emergency." @AllysiaFinley

wsj.comOpinion | Why the Rush for Toddler Vaccines?Covid was clearly a health emergency for adults in 2020. By contrast, the urgency now feels political.

The locking of my account over the tweet triggered a simultaneous “permanent suspension” - my second one since May. I have not yet submitted an appeal.

Who or what do I think is responsible for this sloppy attempt at censorship?

I don’t know, but in this instance, Twitter’s Covid-19 Misleading Information Policy - and enforcement thereof - has clearly led to suppression of free speech and free press.

Again.

UPDATE 7/7/22: I submitted an appeal this morning. It read, My account was locked - and simultaneously suspended - for a tweet that directly quoted a Wall Street Journal article. Neither the content of the quote nor the article itself is in violation of Twitter's policies. Censoring the tweet is censoring The Wall Street Journal. Please acknowledge your error and restore my account. Thank you.

1. The data in this tweet comes from a dashboard that imports directly from the Illinois Department of Public Health.