In an exclusive interview with Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on Wednesday, NBC Nightly News anchor Lester Holt wanted to know how the company went about suspending the account of deranged internet conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. And using that as a springboard, Holt wanted to know if President Trump violated the rules, like Jones did, with his “dog” tweet about former White House staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman.
“Do you make exceptions for high-profile individuals in terms of your rules of service,” Holt asked Dorsey during their sit-down. After the Twitter boss said they hold all accounts to the same standard, Holt jumped right to Trump’s. “The President of the United States yesterday, called a woman -- Omarosa ‘that dog.’ Would that violate your terms of service,” he pressed.
With Holt pressuring him on the difference between talking policy and flinging insults, Dorsey explained that they do make calls on what was “newsworthy” and should be out there for public viewing when it came from world leaders:
So we do have a clause within our terms of service around public interest and around newsworthiness. We believe it's important for the world to hear directly from global leaders how they think and how they treat the people around them. (…) We make an understanding of who is actually saying that and whether they are a global leader, whether they are a public figure and whether this is something that should be reported on and should be talked about.
It’s arguable that the reason Holt pressed Dorsey on Trump possibly breaking the rules was that it could lead to the President’s personal account getting suspended. It’s a reasonable argument because the whole time leading up to that moment Holt and Dorsey were discussing Alex Jones’ suspension.
“That [suspension] period just seven days and presumably after that, Jones will be back,” Holt huffed with frustration. “Well, I feel any suspension, whether it be a permanent or temporary one, makes someone think about actions and behaviors,” Dorsey said.
Before Dorsey could finish his thought, Holt interrupted by scoffing at his beliefs. “You think Alex Jones will change his behavior? Based on a time-out,” he demanded to know. “I don't know, I'm speaking more broadly why we utilize this particular tool. We have found that it does have the potential to change impact and change behavior,” Dorsey concluded.
Taking what appeared to be a jab at Dorsey for not going far enough with Jones, Holt chided him for Jones’ praise of him. “Are you comfortable with the idea that to some on the far-right, the extreme, that you're a hero,” Holt asked in an almost accusatory tone. “So, an attaboy from Alex Jones is not something you wish to have,” he added after Dorsey said no.
The question about Trump violating the rules of Twitter was seemingly a vailed attempt at seeing if he did something that could get his account suspended, the liberal media’s wildest of dreams.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
NBC Nightly News
August 15, 2018
7:09:58 p.m. EasternLESTER HOLT: Now to an NBC News broadcast exclusive. A week after several tech giants removed talk show host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from their platforms, Twitter is suspending his ability to tweet for a week. The company has been criticized for not taking a harder stance against Jones who has previously called the Sandy Hook School Massacre a hoax. Today, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey told me why his company is now taking action.
[Cuts to video]
Well, Alex Jones on Twitter posted this week what essentially is a video calling for people to get their “battle rifles” ready against the media saying it's time to act, it's got to be done now.
(…)
HOLT: Sent a chill up my spine, how about yours?
JACK DORSEY: It did. There is a number of actions that we believe help a call to incitement of violence and those are the things that we need to make sure that we are taking action on.
HOLT: You've taken action against him in this instance. Can you tell us what it is?
DORSEY: I believe we put him in a time-out, removing his ability to tweet for a time period.
HOLT: That period just seven days and presumably after that, Jones will be back. A time-out seems minor compared to the implications of someone suggesting a call to arms against a particular group in this case, the media. How do you respond to that?
DORSEY: Well, I feel any suspension, whether it be a permanent or temporary one, makes someone think about actions and behaviors.
HOLT: You think Alex Jones will change his behavior? Based on a time-out?
DORSEY: I don't know, I'm speaking more broadly why we utilize this particular tool. We have found that it does have the potential to change impact and change behavior.
HOLT: It's Twitter's first move to mute Jones since the major social media peers restricted or removed him from their platforms, exposing Dorsey to broad criticism, while winning him conditional praise from Jones. Are you comfortable with the idea that to some on the far-right, the extreme that you're a hero?
DORSEY: I'm not. I don't agree with the actions that are employed and the behaviors that are employed.
HOLT: So, an attaboy from Alex Jones is not something you wish to have?
DORSEY: No, it's not something I was expecting or need.
(…)
HOLT: Do you make exceptions for high-profile individuals in terms of your rules of service?
DORSEY: No, we hold every account to the same standard, to the same rules.
HOLT: The President of the United States yesterday, called a woman -- Omarosa “that dog.” Would that violate your terms of service?
DORSEY: So we do have a clause within our terms of service around public interest and around newsworthiness. We believe it's important for the world to hear directly from global leaders how they think and how they treat the people around them.
HOLT: You don't make a distinction over policy, talking about taxes or tariffs versus calling a person a dog?
DORSEY: We make an understanding of who is actually saying that and whether they are a global leader, whether they are a public figure and whether this is something that should be reported on and should be talked about.
(…)
