Twitter struggles to respond to anti-LGBTQ attacks on children's hospitals

[Nevilledog]

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Taylor Lorenz
@TaylorLorenz
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Twitter employees warned colleagues to take action against Libs of TikTok, saying it was “only a matter of time” before the posts led to violence.

Me, @lizzadwoskin and @PeteJamison on the fallout from Libs of TikTok’s escalating attacks

washingtonpost.com
Twitter struggles to respond to anti-LGBTQ attacks on children’s hospitals
The growing worries about violence have prompted raging debate inside Twitter over whether the Libs of TikTok account should be suspended.
2:37 PM · Sep 2, 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/09/02/lgbtq-threats-hospitals-libs-of-tiktok/

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https://archive.ph/6G5C0

Children’s hospitals across the U.S. are facing growing threats of violence, driven by an online anti-LGBTQ campaign attacking the facilities for providing care to transgender kids and teens.
Twitter has left up the account inspiring the attacks , despite employees voicing concerns in internal Slack channels that it’s “only a matter of time” before the posts lead to someone getting killed.

The campaign is led by Libs of TikTok, a Twitter account with more than 1.3 million followers run by a former Brooklyn real estate agent named Chaya Raichik, whose posts are frequently cited by Fox News’s Tucker Carlson and other right-wing media figures.

After gaining a large Twitter following in the spring as she baselessly accused LGBTQ teachers of being pedophiles and “groomers,” Raichik began criticizing children’s health facilities earlier this summer, targeting a hospital in Omaha in June and another in Pittsburgh in August. The attacks resulted in a flood of online harassment and phoned-in threats at both hospitals.

Next came threats against children’s hospitals in Boston and Washington, D.C. after Raichik posted tweets targeting them.

*snip*

[TheRealNorth]

1. That dumbass better be hiding her assets real well

Because she is in for one hell of a civil suit if someone gets hurt because of her dumassery.

[gratuitous]

2. Twitter trying to figure out which side it's on?

Gee, a children's hospital where they treat the sickest kids for free, or some deranged lunatic sending other deranged lunatics to terrorize the hospital. It's not a tough call for us, but Twitter has a revenue stream to consider.

[RKP5637]

3. Media companies should be held accountable too, right up to the CEO.

There is too much bullshit passing under free speech. OK, you can have your free speech, but you are responsible/accountable for the crap. Same for outfits like Fox News, etc. And for bizarre posters.

[crickets]

4. It is stupid and dangerous on Twitter's part to hesitate.

Harmful speech of this nature is not "free speech." Ban the account. Just do it, greedy cowards.

[BlueIdaho]

5. Why is this so hard to figure out?

Blatant lies that will likely lead to violence? Close the account - pronto.

[IngridsLittleAngel]

6. No.. They're not "struggling"

They've chosen to let it happen.

Seriously... Don't fucking kid yourselves, everyone. There is no "struggle". If they wanted to do something, they could have.

I've seen it for 25 years in "social media".. "FUCK F*GS!" "DEATH TO TR***IES!" "KILL THEM!!!!!" Hit the report button.. "I don't know why you reported this. We don't see a violation here.. lol. LOL!!!!"

The moment you have enough of being terrorized and say "FUCK YOU, BIGOT!!!!" or "Tucker Carlson needs to be taken behind the woodshed..." THERE IT IS!!! YOU BROKE TOS! YOU'RE BANNED!

So Twit... Can I call you Twit, Twitter? Alright, Twit.. Twit. You're letting them call for murder. Against me, against others.. Not just a TOS violation.. Criminal conduct.. Where are you? Oh yes.. BOTH SIDES!

The fucking minute LiarsOfTerrorTwits gets someone killed, you have blood on your hands. Because you've let it happen. You've gotten thousands of alerts, and each and every time... "LOL! BOTH SIDES!"

You either stand with human rights and democracy.. Or you stand for fascism and mass murder.

We know where you stand... TWIT.

May you be sued into your death, enablers.