Trump Vs Twitter: Should Twitter Be Allowed To Fact-check President Donald Trump

Earlier this week,  and for the first time ever, Twitter placed fact-checking links alongside two Trump tweets that contained false claims about voter fraud. As a reaction, Trump issued an executive order directing federal regulators to consider stripping social media companies of the legal shield that says they are not liable for the content posted on their platforms. The executive order aims to significantly diminish social media companies’ legal protections. 

Mark Zuckerberg, however, disagrees with Jack Dorsey’s approach.  In interviews this week, Zuckerberg reiterated his long-standing stance: “I don’t think Facebook or internet platforms in general should be ‘arbiters of truth’,” he said. 

To deepen the battle, Twitter flagged Trump’s Minneapolis tweet for promoting violence. After keeping up with the Twitter fact-checking controversy, Blind, an anonymous community of verified professionals (including Facebook and Twitter), began running a survey asking: 

    1. Should Twitter be allowed to fact-check the tweets of President Donald Trump?
    2. Do you agree with the following statement: “social networks should not be fact-checking political speech”
    3. In your opinion, is a platform suppressing free speech when they move to suspend users or delete posts?
    4. Who is accountable for the spread of misinformation on social media platforms?

Key Takeaways (05/28-05/29) 1,500 Responses:

  • 83% of professionals said Twitter should be allowed to fact-check the tweets of President Donald Trump
    • 78% of Facebook professionals said Twitter should be allowed to fact-check the tweets of President Donald Trump
    • 76% of Twitter professionals  said Twitter should be allowed to fact-check the tweets of President Donald Trump
  • 68% of respondents Somewhat disagree/ disagree with the following statement: “social networks should not be fact-checking political speech”
  • 31% of  respondents do not think a platform is suppressing free speech when they move to suspend users or delete posts
  • 34% of respondents hold the platform accountable for the spread of misinformation on social media platforms
  • 58% of respondents hold the user  accountable for the spread of misinformation on social media platforms

On Blind, one Apple employee posted, “Thank you Twitter and folks who work there. I don’t know who needs to hear this, but, you guys did a brave thing.” 

Where do you stand? Join the conversation at Blind.