The social network Twitter noted the message of the US President Donald Trump about the situation in Minneapolis, where riots continue due to the death of African-American George Floyd, as violating the company’s rules on the glorification of violence.
Earlier, Trump wrote on his Twitter that he could send fighters of the National Guard to Minneapolis if the mayor does not take the situation under control. The president said that “either the very weak radical left-wing mayor Jacob Frey will take action and take control of the city”, or he will send the National Guard to the city and “do everything as it should”. Trump also wrote that “we will take (the situation) under control, but when looting begins, the shooting begins”.
“This tweet violates Twitter’s rules regarding the glorification of violence. However, Twitter employees decided not to block access to it, since it may be a matter of public interest”, – the company said, which now accompanies Trump’s statement.
Earlier, the Twitter social network designated one of Trump’s messages as containing a lie and placed a warning icon under it with a link to an article saying that Trump had lied. Trump in response threatened to strictly regulate or completely “shut down” social networks if they continued to drown out the voices of conservatives. Social networks claim that they do not suppress anyone’s points of view, although they remove or block content that is contrary to their rules.
Trump also signed a decree, which, he said, is designed to remove from social networks protection against claims for editing content. The microblogging service Twitter later called the presidential decree on social networks “reactionary and politically biased”.
The riots in Minneapolis continue on the third day, people are protesting against the actions of the police, which led to the death of African-American George Floyd. On Friday night, protesters burned down a police station; law enforcement officers were evacuated from the roof by helicopter. Eyewitnesses report in social networks that there were no National Guard fighters at the scene of the incident, whom the Governor of Minnesota mobilized to suppress the riots.
Floyd’s death caused riots in Minneapolis and other cities after the appearance of a “viral” video of his detention. The record shows how the police threw Floyd and handcuffed him, and one of the officers kneeled on his neck. The detainee first says several times that he cannot breathe, and then faints. Floyd was hospitalized, he died in intensive care.
When this information became widespread, the city police announced the dismissal of four officers who took part in the detention. The city held protests, accompanied by vandalism and fires. The FBI joined the investigation into the death of Floyd, which declared this case a priority.