IAPA expresses concern over the suspension of Twitter accounts

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Miami (December 16, 2022) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expressed concern over the suspension of journalists' Twitter accounts. The organization considered that the measure constitutes an act of censorship against the press and critical voices.

Twitter suspended the accounts of journalists from The Washington Post, The New York Times, CNN, and Voice of America, as well as users who criticized Elon Musk, owner of Twitter. Musk justified the suspensions because they published his location and private plane in real-time. However, some of those affected argued that they did not cover that information and stated that they did not know which rule they violated.

The Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information chairman, Carlos Jornet, objected to "this measure, which constitutes an act of censorship against the press and critical voices. We are concerned about this action's bad precedent for freedom of expression."

Jornet, the editor of Argentina's La Voz del Interior, considered "troubling this Twitter policy of imposing muzzles on professional journalists, shortly after they announced a new era of openness and freedom of expression after lifting the permanent suspension on former President Donald Trump."

Twitter "must work on a less erratic and contradictory content moderation policy, as well as more transparent," he said.

Jornet recalled that the IAPA's Declaration of Salta, created in 2018, addresses the duties, rights, and criteria assumed by all actors - governments, platforms, media, and citizens - in the digital era.

IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere; and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.

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