My account was locked by Twitter for publishing information about Google from the #BlueLeaks archive released by #DDoSecrets... but I'm back now. They deleted the tweet.
Let's talk about what I posted:
Let's talk about what I posted:
Shortly after the archive went live, I poked through it and came across data sent to US law enforcement from Google, presumably as a result of a subpoena.
This isn't new. We know this happens frequently. Still interesting to look at what they send and how it's formatted.
This isn't new. We know this happens frequently. Still interesting to look at what they send and how it's formatted.
You might have seen it floating around. White background, red redactions.
Here's some blurry, unreadable, pixels that slightly resemble it. No "private information" here, Twitter.
Here's some blurry, unreadable, pixels that slightly resemble it. No "private information" here, Twitter.
Funny enough, it's not even an image from the database. The original was a text file. I copied it into a text editor, took a screenshot, then used Photoshop to redact the sensitive information.
It was journalistic in nature, properly redacted to avoid doxxing, and arguably transformed past the point of being "part" of the archive.
What if I had just taken the text and copied it all into a twitter thread?
What if I had just taken the text and copied it all into a twitter thread?
#DDoSecrets published a link to a PDF copy of John Bolton's book. Twitter went on the war path after receiving DMCA take down requests from Bolton's publisher. I'm sure they also received pressure from LE to take down the leaks.
The extent of it is concerning.
The extent of it is concerning.
Twitter banned #DDoSecrets, suspended @NatSecGeek, @IGD_News, @brazenqueer, me, and *many* others, citing rules against "posting private information." They are "actively censoring" @aimeepearcy_'s story for @PandoDaily about their censorship.
The extent of the purge is alarming, but not surprising. It's also a good look into how Twitter does it's content moderation.
Twitter is a private mega-corp that's going to do what private mega-corps do: protect their own interest.
Of course they are going to cave to external pressure to remove content they deem a liability while leaving up Trump tweets for the sake of political expediency.
Of course they are going to cave to external pressure to remove content they deem a liability while leaving up Trump tweets for the sake of political expediency.
It's still gross - particularly at this political moment and considering the content of the leaks. This information is *definitely* in the public interest.
We deserve a transparent look into the inner workings of law enforcement in this country.
Do the right thing Twitter.
We deserve a transparent look into the inner workings of law enforcement in this country.
Do the right thing Twitter.
