Twitter Files Reveal CIA's Involvement in Content Moderation and Censorship Efforts

A new Twitter Files investigation has revealed that former and current Intelligence Community (IC) employees and contractors, including those with ties to the CIA, were involved in an effort to control Twitter's content management system in 2021-2022.
The individuals involved in this effort included a member of the Board of Trustees of the CIA's venture capital firm, ostensibly "former" IC and CIA analysts, a long-time IC contractor and senior Department of Defense R&D official, the proposed head of the DHS' Disinformation Governance Board, and Twitter's former Deputy General Counsel.
These individuals aimed to use not only Twitter but also PayPal, Amazon Web Services, and GoDaddy to de-platform, de-monetize, and remove from the internet those deemed a threat by the IC.
The investigation found evidence of an organized operation by existing or former IC employees and contractors, using well-established IC tradecraft, to take control of Twitter's content moderation.
The investigation's authors, Shellenberger MTaibbi and GalexyBrane, have not confirmed if officials within the CIA or any other IC organization directly ran the operation, and most individuals involved did not respond to requests for information.
The revelation comes at a time when governments and intelligence agencies worldwide are increasing efforts to monitor and censor citizens, raising concerns about free speech and citizen control of the military in Western nations.

A groundbreaking Twitter Files investigation has exposed the involvement of current and former U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) members, including those with CIA connections, in a concerted effort to influence Twitter's content moderation practices during 2021-2022. The investigation, led by Shellenberger MTaibbi and GalexyBrane, uncovered evidence suggesting an organized operation employing established IC methods to gain control over the platform's content management. Key figures implicated in the effort include a CIA venture capital firm board member, "ex"-IC and CIA analysts, a long-time IC contractor and senior Defense Department official, the intended head of the DHS' Disinformation Governance Board, and Twitter's former Deputy General Counsel. Their aim extended beyond Twitter, seeking to leverage PayPal, Amazon Web Services, and GoDaddy to silence and erase individuals deemed threatening by the IC. While the investigation did not definitively link the operation to specific CIA or IC officials, the findings raise alarming questions about free speech and civilian oversight of intelligence agencies in Western democracies, as governments worldwide intensify efforts to surveil and censor citizens. The revelations underscore the need for increased transparency and accountability in the face of growing collaboration between tech giants and the intelligence community.