Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey Tells NBC News Alex Jones Ban is a ‘Timeout’ to ‘Alter His Behavior’
EXCLUSIVE: Twitter CEO @jack Dorsey on Alex Jones’ “timeout”:
“Any suspension, whether it be a permanent one or a temporary one, makes someone think about their actions and behaviors.”@lesterholtnbc has more tonight on @NBCNightlyNews. pic.twitter.com/QwUYjcYbAD
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) August 15, 2018
NBC’s Lester Holt interviewed Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for a segment set to air on Wednesday’s NBC Nightly News. And much of the discussion gravitated around the question of why the social media platform hasn’t done more to take action against Infowars’ Alex Jones.
Dorsey, for his part, said, that the seven day “timeout” given to Jones will lead him to “think” about his actions.
“Any suspension — whether it be a permanent suspension or a temporary one — makes someone think about their actions, and their behaviors,” Dorsey said.
Jones was banned from various social media websites over the last few weeks for his inflammatory content. But Twitter has been under fire for their hesitation in taking the same action against Jones despite multiple violations of user policy. Twitter finally suspended Jones after he suggested that people should grab their “battle rifles” against the media. But the freeze on his account will only last for one week.
As Dorsey addressed Jones’ suspension and Twitter’s general effort to penalize users inciting violence, Holt said that “a timeout seems minor compared to the implications of someone suggesting a call to arms against a particular group.” Holt followed up shortly afterwards, asking, “Do you think Alex Jones is going to change his behavior based on a timeout?”
Dorsey admitted, “I don’t know.”
[Image via screengrab]
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