(NEW YORK)— After the removal of blue check verification along with labels to identify propaganda on Twitter, PEN America issued the following statement today from CEO Suzanne Nossel:
“With Twitter having dismantled safeguards against the spread of disinformation and impersonation, a heavy onus now shifts to users to bring a discerning eye to the platform, taking everything you see and read with a large chunk of sea salt. Particularly for those with their own big platforms and followings, the simple act of retweeting or amplifying may render you a vector in the spread of disinformation. With Elon Musk’s Twitter having abandoned its role in trying to uphold truth and fact-based information on the platform, those who continue to use it must now assume that duty themselves.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. To learn more visit PEN.org
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057