Twitter employee who shut down Trump's account says it was a "mistake"

[midian182]

At the start of the month, it briefly appeared as if Twitter had finally acted on its one-time promise to ban Donald Trump if he broke the site’s rules on threats and harassment. For 11 minutes, the president’s account showed the message, “Sorry, that page doesn’t exist.” The microblogging service said it was the action of a customer support employee on his last day at work. Now, we finally know who he is and what really happened.

TechCrunch managed to track down and interview the man responsible for Trump’s brief moment of silence. Bahtiyar Duysak, “a twenty-something with Turkish roots who was born and raised in Germany,” was nearing the end of his fixed work and study visa in the US. In his contractor role for the Twitter Trust and Safety division's customer support team, he dealt with reports of rule-breaking on the site.

Despite admitting that he was the one who shut down Trump, Duysak said it was a mistake, believing that it wouldn’t be possible to disable the president’s account. While he seems unwilling to give many straight answers, Duysak says a number of low-probability events happening at the same time made the incident possible, though he doesn’t provide details of what they were.

“Someone reported Trump's account on Duysak's last day; as a final, throwaway gesture, he put the wheels in motion to deactivate it. Then he closed his computer and left the building,” writes TechCrunch.

"I didn't hack anyone. I didn't do anything that I was not authorized to do. I didn't go to any site I was not supposed to go to. I didn't break any rules," said Duysak. "I was tired sometimes. And everyone can do mistakes. I did a mistake," he added.

In late September, Twitter seemed to go back on its previous promise after claiming it wouldn’t remove Trump’s provocative tweets because they were newsworthy, which could explain why Duysak thought he wouldn’t be able to delete the President’s account.

The FBI is not investigating the incident, and while Twitter has pursued Duysak for more information, he has chosen not to reply.

“We have implemented safeguards to prevent this from happening again,” said Twitter.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/72108-twitter-employee-who-shut-down-trump-account-mistake.html

 

[MonsterZero]

Too bad he didn't have access to delete his account from the database and remove the backup as well. I can't believe half the garbage this guy says is actually going to be a part of history. SMH.

 

[Kotters]

Too bad he didn't have access to delete his account from the database and remove the backup as well. I can't believe half the garbage this guy says is actually going to be a part of history. SMH.

Trump Derangement Syndrome is real.

 

[roebling]

If a Twitter-twit had messed with Hillary's account he'd be apologizing from a funeral home

 

[MilwaukeeMike]

If a Twitter-twit had messed with Hillary's account he'd be apologizing from a funeral home

They don't kill people - but he would be audited by the IRS, and probably be investigated for collusion.

Too bad he didn't have access to delete his account from the database and remove the backup as well. I can't believe half the garbage this guy says is actually going to be a part of history. SMH.

The reactions to Trump's tweets are priceless... He's immature, unrefined, and un-presidential, and people freak out daily about him. But I heard some good advice from a grade school teacher back when I was a kid....A boy was chasing a girl around the playground (like 8 yrs old) and she complained to a teacher... the teacher says 'Well then stop running away and he can't chase you'. Worked like a charm.

Maybe if we just ignored his tweets he'd stop. The media would have to resist the clickbait of 'The Governor's shocking reaction to the Senator's response to the President's tweet' headlines - good luck with that.

But since no one really thinks he's smarter than an 8 yr old - maybe ignoring him should be worth a try?

 

[wiyosaya]

But since no one really thinks he's smarter than an 8 yr old - maybe ignoring him should be worth a try?

The media, left and right, cannot resist because it makes their ratings higher. For them, it would be like withdrawal from alcohol or heroin.

But, yes, I agree it would be worth a try. My bet is Trump's head would explode, though.

 

[Jibberish18]

But since no one really thinks he's smarter than an 8 yr old - maybe ignoring him should be worth a try?

This would work for about 90% of the nuisances we experience in life (Imagine completely ignoring White Supremacist, they'd die a little on the inside) but its not in our nature, especially the media like someone said. They love this stuff and equally he loves it too. I don't think the Rocket Man is a big fan though....or is he?

 

[cliffordcooley]

Usually when I hear someone talk about "White Supremacist" it's from a "Black Supremacist". Which strengthens the need to ignore as @Jibberish18 suggest. But by God I just can't do it at times, or else I wouldn't have felt the desire to comment this time.

 

[wiyosaya]

This would work for about 90% of the nuisances we experience in life (Imagine completely ignoring White Supremacist, they'd die a little on the inside) but its not in our nature, especially the media like someone said. They love this stuff and equally he loves it too. I don't think the Rocket Man is a big fan though....or is he?

Actually, if Trump sets foot in NK, he has already been convicted and sentenced to death, so no, Rocket Man is not a fan at all. However, Rocket Man also does not seem capable of the ignoring part either, IMO.

 

[JamesSWD]

It's too bad most don't comprehend the significance of Trump's tweets and what he's accomplished with them. Instead, they whine & fill their diapers, screaming at the clouds helplessly with the desperate hope to silence him. It's horrifying to see the concept of 'freedom of expression' incomprehensible to their kind, fearing it and wanting to silence differing views.

You don't realize what a gift and RIGHT our 1A is.

 

[lostinlodos]

They don't kill people...

that’s rich. Did you miss them murdering the wikileaks informant ?!?