Why is Twitter enabling Hamas to spread its propaganda with an official account?
That's what Jacob Shrybman of the Sderot Media Center wondered when he discovered @AlqassamBrigade, which links to an official Hamas web site. So he sent a complaint to Twitter's powers-that-be and received this automated reply:
Twitter provides a communication service. As a policy, we do not mediate content or intervene in disputes between users. Users are allowed to post content, including potentially inflammatory content, provided that they do not violate the Twitter Terms of Service and Rules (name calling is not a violation) . . . .
If a violent threat is posted in the future, please let us know, and send the status link.
Which left Shrybman wondering:
So, only if Hamas tweets about the imminent launch of a missile attack will Twitter take action?
A look at the account shows that AlqassamBrigade has 283 followers and posted 955 tweets. It's clearly active.
What about freedom of speech?
Even if AlqassamBrigade were only tweeting inanities like Ismail Haniyeh's breakfast, Gilad Shalit's backgammon style, or how bad the Rafah tunnels smell everytime they smuggle goats, it would still humanize Hamas.
The tweets I saw weren't of that nature. One tweet claiming "American-Israeli conspiracy against Jerusalem" was typical in that it sought to drive web traffic to a Hamas web site with a hyperlink.
So in a not-so-dramatic way, Twitter's facilitating the propaganda efforts of a designated terror organization.
What can you do?
Follow @SderotMedia and send a complaint to Twitter. Click for contact info.
