Recently published “Twitter Files” have exposed the FBI for making a request to Twitter, urging the social media platform to censor accounts accused of spreading misinformation regarding the Ukraine-Russia war.
Moreover, the FBI also sought to collect personal information associated with these accounts. The revelation was brought to public attention by Aaron Maté, the host of The Grayzone News.
According to Maté’s report, an FBI special agent, Aleksandr Kobzanets, who serves as the assistant legal attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Kiev, contacted Twitter executives on behalf of Ukraine’s intelligence agency, the SBU, in March 2022. The agent presented a list of 163 Twitter accounts, alleging that they were involved in spreading fear and disinformation.
In addition, the SBU requested Twitter to block these accounts and provide user data associated with their registration. In response, Yoel Roth, Twitter’s Head of Trust and Safety at the time, expressed concerns about the authenticity of some listed accounts and highlighted reservations about censoring American and Canadian journalists. Roth emphasized the need to focus on identifying potential inauthenticity rather than targeting genuine news outlets or reporters.
Aaron Maté, who himself was included in the list of accounts, raised concerns about the FBI’s collaboration with Ukrainian intelligence to censor Twitter users. He pointed out that this incident is not the first time the FBI has been accused of pressuring major tech platforms to censor users on its behalf.
“The FBI is helping Ukraine censor Twitter users, including journalists. The FBI aided a Ukrainian intelligence effort to ban Twitter users and collect their data. Twitter declined to censor journalists targeted by Ukraine.” Maté reported.
Journalist Lee Fang previously reported that the FBI had pressured Facebook to remove accounts and posts deemed as Russian “disinformation” by the SBU. The broad definition of “disinformation” provided by a senior Ukrainian official indicated that even viewpoints contradicting the Ukrainian government’s narrative could be targeted.
The FBI, when approached for comment, adhered to its policy of not confirming, denying, or commenting on specific interactions or the authenticity of correspondence.
Moreover, prominent journalist Matt Taibbi, who has extensively covered the Twitter Files stories, labeled the latest revelation concerning Ukraine and the FBI’s request for censorship as one of the most disturbing.
Taibbi criticized the FBI for its willingness to assist a foreign government in suppressing a prominent Western journalist, emphasizing that such actions only further highlight the agency’s perceived lack of control.
