"AEC struggles to get Twitter to remove posts that ‘incite violence’ and spread ‘disinformation’ ahead of voice", 20 September 2023

The Australian Electoral Commission has struggled to get Twitter to remove posts that it says are inciting violence against staff and promoting disinformation about the electoral process ahead of the Indigenous voice to parliament referendum, documents reveal.

Correspondence between the agency and social media company – now known as X – obtained under freedom of information laws show frustration over “nil actions” by Twitter on AEC reports in April and May, with a referral left pending for up to 15 days and some appeals left even longer.

The documents show Twitter repeatedly ruled that tweets referred by the AEC were not against its terms of service. On 2 May, the AEC asked Twitter to reconsider its decision not to remove a tweet that raised “concerns it is inciting violence against AEC staff”.

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Twitter responded to a request for comment with an automated email: “Busy now, please check back later.”