1/ Two years ago today, on 4/25/22, Twitter’s Board accepted Elon Musk’s offer to acquire the company at $54.20/share.

As an ex-director for civic integrity at Twitter, I’ve watched what Musk has done since then.

And today is my last post on this platform.

I’m leaving.
🧵>>> 2/ TL;DR: After watching and tweeting dramatically less for the past two years, I’ve decided that (for me) even passive participation on this platform amounts to complicity in Elon Musk’s project of promoting anti-democratic values.

I will not have any part in that.

My experience at Twitter, in one sentence:

“…the entirety of the Information Age is predicated on information’s narrowest technical definition, yet grappling with information’s foundational utility—communication—requires forays into numerous less calculable disciplines.”

https://twitter.com/gavinbwilde/status/1590813046003601408

And this:

“…people simplify complex systems into easily digestible parts. This distillation can offer benefits, such as quicker decisionmaking, but is often inaccurate and overlooks the complexities of the problem.”

1/ For media & voters: During the post-election counting cycle, there's mis/disinformation swirling about on so-called "spikes" in vote counts, which some think is a reflection of "dumping" fake ballots.

This is wrong. It's an artifact of voting tech.

A 🧵to explain. Plz RT.👇 2/ Modern voting tech can contribute to the appearance of sudden “spikes” in ballot counts.

Ballot scanning systems typically allow election officials to scan and store cast vote record data for thousands of mail ballots before actually tabulating the results on Election Night.

So many changes in the Twitter app, I can't keep up with updates.

p.s. Hey Elon, this image is a joke. It's supposed to be funny, ok? You said comedy is allowed, and comedy is even better with disclaimers, cuz lawyers and free speech and all.

Not real. I'm glad you love jokes! On a serious note, yes, this is my way of poking fun at the sloppy and unprofessional way that the impt issue of verification has (not) been managed.

Speaking as an elections expert and a product manager, this is no way to launch a product that is *essential* to trust & safety.

As we get into the post-election ballot counting period, @OSET is focusing on two topics that have garnered a disproportionate share of wild accusations and disinformation:
1) by-mail ballot security;
2) the time required to count and report.

“Explainers” for each are below. 🧵 Here’s the first Explainer, which provides details about all of the security protocols around by-mail voting.

The process is rigorous, and well-understood, and no, there are no “ballot dumps“ in the middle of the night. 👇
bit.ly/OSET_ByMailBal…

1/ Election officials and their staff can and do make mistakes. They are human beings. Even spaceflight in the U.S. has suffered due to human error and unanticipated challenges. Elections are no different.

A short 🧵 2/ Especially given how election administrators and poll workers are reeling due to process changes since 2020 — including security changes in the face of intimidation and threats — it’s important to assess the difference between honest mistakes and malfeasance.

Please come follow me on Mastodon. It’s nice over there, I promise.

And far easier to set up and use than you may think! For a good how-to, see the next tweet in the thread.

It’s been fun getting used to something new (and friendly). Come join me!
mastodon.social/@eddie1perez See this helpful thread, from @garius:

https://twitter.com/garius/status/1588827775628369920

1/ Journalists have been asking me “Do you think Musk’s takeover of Twitter could impact the midterm elections?”

With a week to go, and based on the impulsive and unprofessional behavior we’ve seen over just the past four days, my answer is “Yes.”

How, potentially? A thread.🧵 2/ There are at least 5 ways that Musk can negatively impact midterms, if he makes poor decisions:

- Supercharging polarization
- Allowing an environment that fosters political violence
- Spreading disinformation himself
- Harming voting processes
- Post-election disinformation

1/ In recent weeks, I've written about various midterm election tactics that I've called #ManufacturedChaos.

Lately, I've been specifically thinking about what the *post-election counting period* is likely to look like, and I'm very troubled.

Here's Part 2...a 🧵

https://twitter.com/eddie1perez/status/1577297621319827456

2/ Until recent yrs (w/some exceptions), post-election meant counting the votes, accepting facts, declaring outcomes & transferring power efficiently & peacefully.

But no more. My greatest concern? The post-election period is likely to be the start of a new disinformation cycle.

1/ I’ve left Twitter, and I’m pleased to return to the “outside” world.

To those familiar w/me & my expertise in elections, technology, media & defense of democracy: It’s past time to roll up our sleeves. See🧵 below.

Interested in how I might help your organization?
Plz DM me. 2/ With US elections around the corner, here are my top-line thoughts:

The main theme we should anticipate in the next month are numerous examples of *manufactured chaos.*

What is this? >>>