Twitter labels tweet from RT implying voter fraud in U.S. elections
30 October 2020
Twitter on Thursday labeled a tweet from Russian state media outlet RT (formerly Russia Today) that included a video implying widespread voter fraud is plaguing, and potentially delegitimizing, the U.S. election.
Why it matters: It's the first time Twitter has labeled RT's account with a civic integrity label, or a designation used to highlight efforts to manipulate or interfere in elections or other civic processes.
What they're saying: "We placed a label on the Tweet you referenced for making potentially misleading claims that could undermine confidence in the election, and to offer more context for anyone who may see the Tweet," a Twitter spokesperson said. "This action is in line with our updated Civic Integrity Policy."
Earlier this month, Twitter said it would expand the number of labels it put on tweets to help curb the spread of misinformation surrounding the U.S. election.
The big picture: Intelligence officials have warned that Russia is meddling in the U.S. election, and using strategic disinformation campaigns as a weapon to do so.
- On Thursday, former Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told CBS News' Norah O'Donnell that the intelligence community has "full confidence that the Russians are going after our elections," despite the fact that President Trump has disputed that claim.
Be smart: Russia will often deploy disinformation using its state-backed media accounts, with hopes that other domestic media outlets will pick it up.
- Twitter began labeling state-affiliated media accounts in August, which is why the RT account also features a label that says it's "Russia state-affiliated media."
The marked tweet, featured below, cannot be shared or commented on.
Questions mount amid voter fraud, rigging claims ahead of #USelectionpic.twitter.com/a3ovsEOgO1
— RT (@RT_com) October 29, 2020
Transcripts show George Floyd told police "I can't breathe" over 20 times
Section2Newly released transcripts of bodycam footage from the Minneapolis Police Department show that George Floyd told officers he could not breathe more than 20 times in the moments leading up to his death.
Why it matters: Floyd's killing sparked a national wave of Black Lives Matter protests and an ongoing reckoning over systemic racism in the United States. The transcripts "offer one the most thorough and dramatic accounts" before Floyd's death, The New York Times writes.
The state of play: The transcripts were released as former officer Thomas Lane seeks to have the charges that he aided in Floyd's death thrown out in court, per the Times. He is one of four officers who have been charged.
- The filings also include a 60-page transcript of an interview with Lane. He said he "felt maybe that something was going on" when asked if he believed that Floyd was having a medical emergency at the time.
What the transcripts say:
- Floyd told the officers he was claustrophobic as they tried to get him into the squad car.
- The transcripts also show Floyd saying, "Momma, I love you. Tell my kids I love them. I'm dead."
- Former officer Derek Chauvin, who had his knee on Floyd's neck for over eight minutes, told Floyd, "Then stop talking, stop yelling, it takes a heck of a lot of oxygen to talk."
Read the transcripts via DocumentCloud.