Twitter has suspended rapper Kanye West after tweeting an image of a swastika fused with the Star of David.
Key Points:
- It is the second time this year that the rapper has been suspended from Twitter for anti-Semitic posts
- Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, praised Hitler in an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones on Thursday.
- The deal for Ye to buy right-wing social media site Parler fell through this week
It’s the second time this year that West, now known as Ye, has been suspended from the platform over anti-Semitic charges.
Twitter CEO Elon Musk confirmed the suspension in response to Ye’s posting of an unflattering photo of Musk. Ye called it his “final tweet.”
“I did my best. However, he again violated our policy against incitement to violence. Account suspended,” Musk tweeted.
Anti-Semitic tweets likely to grow: ADL
A report released Friday (local time) by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) said Musk’s moves to ease restrictions on Twitter had empowered extremists on the platform.
The ADL said that, in its role as a “flag of trust” for anti-Semitic tweets, it reported two batches to the company on Nov. 2 — just days after Musk took over — and again on Nov. 17. November after changing their policies and cuts. The Twitter template.
“In two weeks, Twitter went from taking action on 60% of anti-Semitic tweets to acting on only 30%,” the group said.
ADL said it had seen both more anti-Semitic content and less moderation of anti-Semitic posts, a situation it says is likely to worsen due to cuts in Twitter’s content moderation staff.
You publish on Truth Social
It was not immediately clear whether Ye would be allowed to return to Twitter, and the company did not respond to requests for comment.
Ye posted a screenshot on Trump’s Truth Social platform, showing that his Twitter account would be suspended for 12 hours.
The rapper has made a series of anti-Semitic comments in recent weeks.
On Thursday, he praised Hitler in an interview with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.
Ye’s comments have led to his suspension from social media platforms, his talent agency dropping him, and companies like Adidas cutting ties with him.
The sportswear manufacturer has also opened an investigation into its conduct.
Ye was suspended from Twitter in early October after saying in a post that he was going to “death con 3 on JEWISH PEOPLE.”
His account was reinstated later this month just as Musk took control of the company, but the billionaire tweeted: “Ye’s account was reinstated by Twitter prior to the acquisition. I was not consulted or informed me”.
Musk is under pressure to clean up Twitter after changes he made following his purchase of the platform led to what watchdog groups say is an increase in racist, anti-Semitic and other toxic speech.
A senior European Union official warned Musk this week that Twitter must do much more to protect users from hate speech, misinformation and other harmful content ahead of tough new rules that require tech companies to better police their platforms, under the threat of large fines or even a ban in the 27-nation bloc.
Ye had offered to buy right-wing social media site Parler in October, but the company said this week that the deal has fallen through.
The President of the USA intervenes
President Joe Biden also appeared to address the issue in a tweet on Friday, without specifically naming Ye.
“I just want to make a few things clear: The Holocaust happened. Hitler was a demonic figure. And instead of giving him a platform, our political leaders should call out and reject anti-Semitism wherever it lurks. The silence it’s complicity,” Biden. he said in a tweet.
Iowa Republican U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson tweeted: “Kanye West’s anti-Semitic comments today were disgusting. His pattern of anti-Semitic behavior is unacceptable and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms.”
Alex Jones, who has faced backlash for his own controversial comments, filed for bankruptcy less than two months after a jury ordered him and the parent of his website Infowars to pay nearly $1 billion in damages compensation to the families of the victims of Sandy Hook 2012. mass shooting.
AP/Reuters