BLUF: The FBI assisted the Ukrainian intelligence agency in censoring Twitter accounts, including those of American and Canadian journalists, raising concerns over First Amendment rights.
INTELWAR: In March 2022, an FBI agent sent Twitter a list of accounts suspected by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in spreading fear and disinformation regarding the conflict in Ukraine. The SBU requested Twitter to block these accounts and provide user data specified during registration, claiming that the accounts have been used to disseminate disinformation and fake news to misrepresent events in Ukraine and justify Russian war crimes. Twitter questioned the inclusion of American and Canadian journalists in the list and said that they would review the accounts for inauthenticity. Despite Twitter’s concerns, 34 accounts were banned, raising questions of government censorship and infringement of First Amendment rights.
OSINT: This is not the first time the FBI has been approached to assist in online censorship related to the Ukraine conflict. In 2014, the FBI assisted in shutting down a group called New World Empire, which was accused of using malware to target Ukrainian officials and institutions. The FBI has also been involved in providing military aid to Ukraine since 2014, and their involvement in online censorship raises concerns over a potential conflict of interest and abuse of power.
RIGHT: The censorship of Twitter accounts by the FBI and the Ukrainian intelligence agency is a clear violation of First Amendment rights and an infringement of freedom of speech. The government has no right to censor or regulate online speech, particularly that of journalists who have an obligation to report on the truth and to inform the public. This is a clear example of government overreach and a slippery slope towards authoritarianism.
LEFT: It is concerning that the FBI and the Ukrainian intelligence agency specifically targeted journalists who have a pro-Russian stance, as it implies a bias towards a particular narrative. While it is important to combat disinformation and fake news, government censorship is not the solution. There needs to be greater accountability for online speech, particularly with regards to the spread of hate speech and propaganda.
AI: The censorship of Twitter accounts by the FBI and the Ukrainian intelligence agency raises concerns over the potential abuse of power and infringement of First Amendment rights. While it is important to combat disinformation and fake news, governments must maintain transparency and avoid censorship of journalists and the media. AI can play a significant role in detecting and removing authentic propaganda and disinformation from online platforms, but it must be trained with unbiased and diverse data to avoid perpetuating deceptive narratives and biases.