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Kamis, 07 Januari 2021

Capitol violence sparks a social media reckoning with Trump - CNA

WASHINGTON, DC: All it took for social-media giants Twitter and Facebook to even temporarily bar President Donald Trump from addressing their vast audiences was a violent insurrection at the US Capitol, fueled by years of false statements, conspiracy theories and violent rhetoric from the president.

On Wednesday (Jan 6) , in an unprecedented step, the two companies temporarily suspended Trump from posting to their platforms after a mob of his supporters stormed the house of Congress.

It was the most aggressive action either company has yet taken against Trump, who more than a decade ago embraced the immediacy and scale of Twitter to rally loyalists, castigate enemies and spread false rumors.

Twitter locked Trump out of his account for 12 hours and said that future violations by Trump could result in a permanent suspension.

READ: Facebook, Twitter suspend Trump's accounts after US Capitol violence

READ: Twitter locks Trump's account, threatens permanent ban over violations

The company required the removal of three of Trump's tweets, including a short video in which he urged those supporters to “go home” while also repeating falsehoods about the integrity of the presidential election.

Trump's account deleted those posts, Twitter said. Had they remained, Twitter had threatened to extend his suspension.

Facebook and Instagram, which Facebook owns, followed up in the evening, announcing that Trump wouldn't be able to post for 24 hours following two violations of its policies. The White House did not immediately offer a response to the actions.

While some cheered the platforms' actions, experts noted that the companies' actions follow years of hemming and hawing on Trump and his supporters spreading dangerous misinformation and encouraging violence that have contributed to Wednesday's violence.

Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor and an expert on social media, said Wednesday’s events in Washington, DC are a direct result of Trump’s use of social media to spread propaganda and disinformation, and that the platforms should bear some responsibility for their inaction.

“This is what happens,” said Grygiel. “We didn’t just see a breach at the Capitol. Social media platforms have been breached by the president repeatedly. This is disinformation. This was a coup attempt in the United States.”

Grygiel said the platform’s decision to remove the video — and Twitter’s suspension — are too little, too late.

READ: Corporate group urges officials consider Trump's removal 'to preserve democracy'

READ: World stunned by violence in US Capitol as protesters attempt to overturn election

“They’re creeping along towards firmer action,” Grygiel said, calling Trump “Exhibit A” for the need for greater regulation of social media.

“Social media is complicit in this because he has repeatedly used social media to incite violence. It’s a culmination of years of propaganda and abuse of media by the president of the United States."

Trump posted that video more than two hours after protesters entered the Capitol, interrupting lawmakers meeting in an extraordinary joint session to confirm the Electoral College results and President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

READ: Guns and tear gas in US Capitol as Trump supporters attempt to overturn his loss

READ: Woman shot in US Capitol unrest has died

So far, YouTube has not taken similar action to muzzle Trump, although it said it also removed Trump's video. But that video remained available as of Wednesday afternoon.

Guy Rosen, Facebook’s vice-president of integrity, said on Twitter Wednesday that the video was removed because it “contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence.”

“This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump’s video,” Rosen said on Twitter.

Twitter initially left the video up but blocked people from being able to retweet it or comment on it. Only later in the day did the platform delete it entirely.

Trump opened his video saying, “I know your pain. I know your hurt. But you have to go home now.”

READ: Donald Trump tells supporters to 'go home' after storming of US Capitol

After repeating false claims about voter fraud affecting the election, Trump went on to say: “We can’t play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You’re very special.”

Republican lawmakers and previous administration officials had begged Trump to give a statement to his supporters to quell the violence. He posted his video as authorities struggled to take control of a chaotic situation at the Capitol that led to the evacuation of lawmakers and the death of at least one person.

Trump has harnessed social media — especially Twitter — as a potent tool for spreading misinformation about the election. Wednesday's riot only increased calls to ban Trump from the platform.

“The President has promoted sedition and incited violence," Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive officer of the Anti-Defamation League said in a statement.

“More than anything, what is happening right now at the Capitol is a direct result of the fear and disinformation that has been spewed consistently from the Oval Office."

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2021-01-07 07:46:19Z
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Rabu, 06 Januari 2021

World stunned by violence in US Capitol as protesters attempt to overturn election - CNA

WASHINGTON: World leaders on Wednesday (Jan 6) expressed shock at the violent protesters who overran the US Congress and attempts to overturn the Nov 3 presidential election results which dealt a victory to Democratic challenger Joe Biden.

Police in the US Capitol responded with drawn guns and tear gas as hundreds of protesters stormed in and sought to force Congress to undo President Donald Trump's election loss shortly after some of Trump's fellow Republicans launched a last-ditch effort to throw out the results.

READ: Guns and tear gas in US Capitol as Trump supporters attempt to overturn his loss

READ: Woman shot in US Capitol unrest has died

Here are reactions from around the world:

UNITED KINGDOM

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a tweet described the scenes in the US Congress as a "disgrace", saying the United States stood for democracy around the world and that was it was "vital" now that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab added in his own tweet: "The US rightly takes great pride in its democracy, and there can be no justification for these violent attempts to frustrate the lawful and proper transition of power."

EUROPEAN UNION

"In the eyes of the world, American democracy tonight appears under siege," the EU's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted.

Calling the action an "assault on US democracy, its institutions and the rule of law", he added: "This is not America. The election results of Nov 3 must be fully respected."

READ: 'It's a sad day': Teo Chee Hean hopes for peaceful end after protesters storm US Capitol

GERMANY

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said democracy's enemies would be cheered by scenes of violence at the United States Capitol, and he called on Trump to accept US voters' decision.

In a Tweet posted after protesters stormed the seat of the US legislature, Maas said the violence had been caused by inflammatory rhetoric. "Trump and his supporters must accept the decision of American voters at last and stop trampling on democracy."

German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, who is also the vice chancellor, likewise condemned the "disturbing images" from Washington.

Electoral College Photo Gallery — Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

RUSSIA

"Quite Maidan-style pictures are coming from DC," Russia's deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy posted on Twitter, referring to protests in Ukraine that toppled Russian-backed President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich in 2014.

"Some of my friends ask whether someone will distribute crackers to the protesters to echo Victoria Nuland stunt," he said, citing a 2013 visit to Ukraine when then-US Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland offered food to protesters.

READ: 'It's insurrection,' says Biden, as Trump supporters storm US Capitol

READ: Donald Trump tells supporters to 'go home' after storming of US Capitol

CANADA

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern about the violent scenes in Washington. "Obviously we're concerned and we're following the situation minute by minute," Trudeau told the News 1130 Vancouver radio station. "I think the American democratic institutions are strong, and hopefully everything will return to normal shortly."

Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said on Twitter: "Canada is deeply shocked by the situation in Washington DC. The peaceful transition of power is fundamental to democracy - it must continue and it will. We are following developments closely and our thoughts are with the American people."

Pro-Trump supporters in US Capitol arrested — US Capitol Police hold protesters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. (Photo: AP/Andrew Harnik)

AUSTRALIA

Australian PM Scott Morrison condemned the "very distressing scenes" in the US.

"We condemn these acts of violence and look forward to a peaceful transfer of Government to the newly elected administration in the great American democratic tradition," he tweeted.

NEW ZEALAND

Jacinda Ardern tweeted: "Democracy - the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully should never be undone by a mob."

The prime minister added her country's thoughts were with everyone "devastated" by today's events, adding: "What is happening is wrong."

READ: Pelosi says Biden win certification to resume once Capitol secure

FRANCE

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Twitter: "The violence against the American institutions is a grave attack on democracy. I condemn it. The will and the vote of the American people must be respected."

SPAIN

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet: "I am following with concern the news that are coming from Capitol Hill in Washington. I trust in the strength of America's democracy.

"The new Presidency of @JoeBiden will overcome this time of tension, uniting the American people."

NATO

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the violent protests in Washington "shocking scenes" and said the outcome of the democratic US election must be respected.

A supporter of US President Donald Trump wears a gas mask and holds a bust of him after he and hundreds of others stormed stormed the Capitol building AFP/ROBERTO SCHMIDT

THE NETHERLANDS

"Horrible images from Washington D.C. Dear @realDonaldTrump, recognise @JoeBiden as the next president today," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter.

The plain-speaking Rutte once during a visit to the White House in 2018 interrupted Trump with a loud "no" when Trump made an assertion about EU-US trade.

READ: Twitter locks Trump's account, threatens permanent ban over violations

IRELAND

Irish premier Micheal Martin, who has invited the Irish-American Biden to visit his ancestral homeland early in his presidency, tweeted his condemnation.

"The Irish people have a deep connection with the United States of America, built up over many generations. I know that many, like me, will be watching the scenes unfolding in Washington DC with great concern and dismay," Martin said.

GREECE

"Extremely troubled by the violence and horrible events taking place in Washington D.C. American democracy is resilient, deeply rooted and will overcome this crisis," Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a tweet.

National Guard defend US capitol — Members of the National Guard assist police officers line up as they assist police in dispersing protesters who are gathering at the US Capitol Building on Jan 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images/AFP)

SWEDEN

Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in a tweet described the incidents as "an attack on democracy". "President Trump and many members of Congress bear significant responsibility for what's now taking place. The democratic process of electing a president must be respected."

TURKEY

"We are following with concern the internal developments happening in the US," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement.

"We call on all parties in the US to maintain restrain and prudence. We believe the US will overcome this internal political crisis in a mature manner."

Commentary: The nightmarish end to Donald Trump’s presidency

AUSTRIA

"This is an unacceptable assault on democracy. A peaceful and orderly transfer of power must be ensured," said Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz on Twitter.

CZECH REPUBLIC

Czech Foreign Minister Tomas Petricek said in a tweet: "The looting and violence at the US Senate are not a good example for countries where democracy is fighting hard for a place in the sun. Given the emotions sparked by the US presidential election, we could expect today's session to be far from ordinary. Where were the police and the Senate bodyguards...?"

DENMARK

"Extremism, violence, polarization and violence is never the way forward. Terrible pictures from Washington. May democracy be brought back to working again," Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Facebook

SLOVENIA

Slovenia's right-wing Prime Minister Janez Jansa, who backed Trump and who has yet to congratulate Biden on his victory, tweeted: "All should be very troubled by the violence taking place in Washington D.C."

"We hope American democracy is resilient, deeply rooted and will overcome this crisis. Democracy presupposes peaceful protest, but violence and death threats -from Left or Right- are ALWAYS wrong."

FIJI

The prime minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama – who led a coup in 2006 and was accused of assaulting an opposition lawmaker in 2019 – added his condemnation.

"The violent scenes we saw in Washington today are an affront to democracies around the globe. True and genuine democracy is a precious treasure that no nation should ever take for granted," he tweeted.

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2021-01-07 01:30:00Z
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Facebook, Twitter suspend Trump's accounts after US Capitol violence - CNA

WASHINGTON: Twitter on Wednesday (Jan 6) locked the account of President Donald Trump for 12 hours and threatened its permanent suspension, as tech giants scrambled to crack down on his baseless claims about the US presidential elections amid riots at the US Capitol.

In a rapidly evolving sequence of events, Facebook later tweeted it would also block Trump's page from posting for 24 hours due to two policy violations. Facebook-owned Instagram said it would also block the president's account for 24 hours as well.

The response from social media came amid accusations the president was attempting a coup, with protesters storming the Capitol building seeking to derail the certification of Joe Biden's election victory.

[embedded content]

READ: Guns and tear gas in US Capitol as Trump supporters attempt to overturn his loss

READ: Woman shot in US Capitol unrest has died

The president and his allies have continuously spread unsubstantiated claims of election fraud that have proliferated online.

Twitter hid and required the removal of three of Trump's tweets "as a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, DC".

If the tweets are not removed, the account would remain locked, Twitter said, meaning the president would be unable to tweet from @realDonaldTrump. His Twitter account is followed by about 88 million people.

Facebook and YouTube, owned by Alphabet's Google, also removed a video in which Trump continued to allege the presidential election was fraudulent even as he urged protesters to go home.

Commentary: The nightmarish end to Donald Trump’s presidency

RISK OF VIOLENCE

"This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video," Facebook vice president of integrity Guy Rosen said in a tweet.

"We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence."

It was also taken down from Instagram.

YouTube said Trump's video violated its policy against content that alleges "widespread fraud or errors changed the outcome of the 2020 US Election". YouTube spokesman Farshad Shadloo added the company does allow copies that include additional context.

"As the situation at the United States Capitol Building unfolds, our teams are working to quickly remove livestreams and other content that violates our policies, including those against incitement to violence or regarding footage of graphic violence," said YouTube spokesperson Alex Joseph.

READ: Corporate group urges officials consider Trump's removal 'to preserve democracy'

Both Facebook and Twitter had originally added labels and measures to slow the video's spread.

Facebook subsequently said it would search for and remove content which praised the storming of the Capitol or encouraged the violence.

The massive social network said it would also seek to take down additional calls for protests, including peaceful ones, if they violate a curfew imposed by the city of Washington, or any attempts to "restage" the storming of Congress.

"The violent protests in the Capitol today are a disgrace," a Facebook spokesperson said.

"We prohibit incitement and calls for violence on our platform. We are actively reviewing and removing any content that breaks these rules."

Facebook maintained that it was in contact with law enforcement officials and continued to enforce bans on QAnon conspiracy group, militarised social movements, and hate groups.

A #StormTheCapitol hashtag was blocked at Facebook and Instagram, according to the Internet titan.

READ: 'It's insurrection,' says Biden, as Trump supporters storm US Capitol

READ: Donald Trump tells supporters to 'go home' after storming of US Capitol

Earlier, dozens of Facebook staffers called for executives to clarify how they were handling Trump's posts, with some calling for his account to be taken down for inciting the violence at the Capitol, according to internal posts seen by Reuters.

"Can we get some courage and actual action from leadership in response to this behavior? Your silence is disappointing at the least and criminal at worst," one employee wrote.

Internal communications managers quickly closed comments on the threads, saying in identical posts that updates would be provided but "the priority right now is actively dealing with the ongoing situation".

According to researchers and public postings, violent rhetoric and advice on weaponry ramped up significantly in the past three weeks on many social media platforms as multiple groups planned rallies for Wednesday, including Trump supporters, white nationalists and enthusiasts of the wide-ranging conspiracy theory QAnon.

The Anti-Defamation League called for social media companies to suspend Trump's accounts permanently, saying the events at the Capitol resulted from "fear and disinformation that has been spewed directly from the Oval Office".

Former Facebook security chief Alex Stamos tweeted: "Twitter and Facebook have to cut him off."

A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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2021-01-07 02:26:15Z
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Twitter locks Trump's account, threatens permanent ban over violations - CNA

[embedded content]

READ: Guns and tear gas in US Capitol as Trump supporters attempt to overturn his loss

READ: Woman shot in US Capitol unrest has died

The president and his allies have continuously spread unsubstantiated claims of election fraud that have proliferated online.

Twitter hid and required the removal of three of Trump's tweets "as a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, DC".

Facebook and YouTube, owned by Alphabet's Google, also removed a video in which Trump continued to allege the presidential election was fraudulent even as he urged protesters to go home.

Commentary: The nightmarish end to Donald Trump’s presidency

RISK OF VIOLENCE

"This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video," Facebook vice president of integrity Guy Rosen said in a tweet.

"We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence."

It was also taken down from Instagram.

Both Facebook and Twitter had originally added labels and measures to slow the video's spread.

Facebook subsequently said it would search for and remove content which praised the storming of the Capitol or encouraged the violence.

"The violent protests in the Capitol today are a disgrace," a Facebook spokesperson said.

"We prohibit incitement and calls for violence on our platform. We are actively reviewing and removing any content that breaks these rules."

Facebook maintained that it was in contact with law enforcement officials and continued to enforce bans on QAnon conspiracy group, militarised social movements, and hate groups.

A #StormTheCapitol hashtag was blocked at Facebook and Instagram, according to the Internet titan.

READ: 'It's insurrection,' says Biden, as Trump supporters storm US Capitol

READ: Donald Trump tells supporters to 'go home' after storming of US Capitol

"Can we get some courage and actual action from leadership in response to this behavior? Your silence is disappointing at the least and criminal at worst," one employee wrote.

Former Facebook security chief Alex Stamos tweeted: "Twitter and Facebook have to cut him off."

A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Twitter locks Trump's account, threatens permanent ban over violations - CNA

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Twitter locks Trump's account, threatens permanent ban over violations CNA
Chaos in Washington as Trump supporters storm Capitol and force lockdown of Congress - BBC News BBC News
Trump still will not concede as Congress meets to affirm election Al Jazeera English
Call it what it was: a coup attempt The Guardian
Opinion | Trump Incites Rioters The New York Times
View Full coverage on Google News

Democrats gain control of US Senate with wins in Georgia - The Straits Times

WASHINGTON - The Democratic Party retook control of the US Senate on Wednesday (Jan 6) with historic victories in two Georgia run-off elections.

Democrat Raphael Warnock, a 51-year-old pastor of civil rights giant Martin Luther King Jr’s former congregation, will become Georgia’s first Black senator with his defeat of Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler.

Democrat challenger Jon Ossoff, meanwhile, saw off Republican opponent David Perdue. At 33, he will be Georgia’s first Jewish senator and the country’s youngest since President-elect Joe Biden was first elected to the Senate in 1973 at age 30.

The results were a stunning turnaround from November, when both Democrats polled slightly behind the Republicans.

They underscored the political shift in the formerly deeply Republican state of Georgia, which has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1996, but which voted for Mr Biden in November after months of campaigning and voter registration drives by local Democrat activists and organisers.

It could also signal a rejection of US President Donald Trump, who personally campaigned in Georgia for the Republican senators, and his politics of division and strategy of falsely alleging electoral fraud. He doubled down on Tuesday as Mr Warnock’s victory became likely, claiming without evidence on Twitter that the election was rigged against Republicans.

The twin victories, however, were overshadowed by Trump supporters storming the US Capitol in Washington and clashing with police.

Mr Warnock paid tribute to his mother, remarking on the improbability of his journey made possible “because this is America”, as he promised to work for all Georgians.

“The other day, because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else’s cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a US senator,” he said in a late-night video message to supporters.

In flipping the Senate, the Democrats will have unified control of Congress and the White House for the first time since 2009, albeit by the narrowest of majorities.

Both the Democrats and Republicans will have 50 seats in the Senate with Mr Ossoff's win, giving Vice-President Kamala Harris the tiebreaker vote.

It could take days to get a final tally for the outcome of the race between Mr Perdue and Mr Ossoff, as 17,000 military and overseas ballots, and some domestic absentee ballots, can still be counted as late as Friday.

The narrow results will almost certainly spark legal challenges or recounts that also could delay a final determination of Senate control, according to newswire service Bloomberg.

Mr Raphael Warnock will be Georgia's first black senator. PHOTO: AFP

Ms Loeffler campaigning in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on Jan 5, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS

Washington, meanwhile, had been braced for high drama on Wednesday with Congress meeting to count and announce Mr Biden’s 306 to 232 electoral college win over Mr Trump.

The House of Representatives and Senate met in a constitutionally prescribed joint session starting at 1pm to count the electoral votes, all of which have been lawfully certified by the states.

The count had already begun when Trump supporters, who had earlier been listening to a speech by the US President, marched to the US Capitol, overturning barricades and clashing with police on the US Capitol grounds before streaming inside the building.

With drawn guns and tear gas, officers evacuated lawmakers, staff and press and sought to clear the Capitol Building of protesters, who surged through the halls of Congress in shocking scenes broadcast across the globe, said Reuters.

One protester occupied the Senate dais and yelled: “Trump won that election.”

Police later cleared protesters off the Capitol steps, according to video, and were working to clear them from the building, Reuters said.

Vice-President Mike Pence, who had presided over the joint session of Congress, had already been escorted from the Senate.

Mr Pence, as president of the Senate, had been presiding over a roll call of the 50 states and Washington DC. Sealed certificates from each state, containing its electoral votes, were to be opened and officially counted.

If at least one senator and one member of the House of Representatives object to a state’s results, both chambers will separately debate the objection and vote on whether to sustain it. To overturn a result, the House and the Senate must agree by a simple majority vote to do so.

Supporters holding campaign signs for Senate candidates near a polling location in Marietta, Georgia, on Jan 5, 2021. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

So far, 13 Republican senators and around 140 Congressmen had said they will object to results, likely in at least six states that Mr Biden won: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

But 23 Republican senators had said they would not join the objections, which are all but certain to fail, given the Democrats’ control of the House.

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2021-01-06 23:23:51Z
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World stunned by violence in US Capitol as protesters attempt to overturn election - CNA

Here are reactions from around the world:

SWEDEN

UNITED KINGDOM

GERMANY

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said democracy's enemies would be cheered by scenes of violence at the United States Capitol, and he called on Trump to accept US voters' decision.

RUSSIA

NATO

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg called the violent protests in Washington "shocking scenes" and said the outcome of the democratic US election must be respected.

SPAIN

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a tweet: "I am following with concern the news that are coming from Capitol Hill in Washington. I trust in the strength of America's democracy.

"The new Presidency of @JoeBiden will overcome this time of tension, uniting the American people."

CANADA

Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne on Twitter: "Canada is deeply shocked by the situation in Washington DC. The peaceful transition of power is fundamental to democracy - it must continue and it will. We are following developments closely and our thoughts are with the American people."

TURKEY

Turkey's foreign ministry issued a statement expressing concern about the violence and called for calm and common sense while urging its citizens to avoid crowds and the protest area.

FRANCE

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