On Monday, Lila Rose discussed Twitter’s suppression of pro-life speech and blocking of pro-life ads with Tucker Carlson on Fox News.
The following tweet from Lila’s account, @LilaGraceRose, is one of many that was flagged for violating Twitter’s hate and sensitive topic policy. The tweet is almost word for word a Dr. Seuss quote, with pro-life hashtags added on.
Because a person’s a person, no matter how small. #WhyWeProtest #ProtestPP
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) August 22, 2015
The social media platform refused to allow Live Action to buy advertisements on the grounds that Live Action tweets violate Twitter’s hate and sensitive content policy. According to Twitter representatives, Live Action must first delete all tweets calling for the end of taxpayer funding for Planned Parenthood, all tweets of undercover investigations into Planned Parenthood, and any ultrasound images of preborn children. Live Action must also delete, or at least replace, the Live Action website, in order to be considered for advertising on Twitter.
Specific tweets that Twitter considers “offensive” can be seen here. Upon even a quick review of these tweets – coupled with the knowledge that Planned Parenthood’s tweets about the exact same issues are apparently considered perfectly acceptable to Twitter – it becomes obvious that Live Action’s (or Lila Rose’s) tweets are in no way a violation of Twitter’s policy and are not “offensive” in any sense of the word – that is, unless we’re talking about people getting offended by and seeking to block opposing viewpoints, which is clearly the case here.
Following the release of the information on Twitter’s suppression of pro-life messages, Twitter users reacted quickly and strongly to the obviously biased and ideologically motivated actions:
@Twitter stop censoring @LiveAction on ideological grounds. Are you afraid of opposing viewpoints to Planned Parenthood? #FirstAmendment
— John Tucker (@JTuckerPhoto) June 27, 2017
@Twitter @LiveActionNews Twitter, if you censor ads from @LiveAction , please censor ads from planned parenthood.May life and love increase.
— Alanda (@lovepowersus) June 27, 2017
.@Twitter is suppressing life-affirming speech and fact-checks of Planned Parenthood. .@PPact. pic.twitter.com/9UnDMPZuOF
— John Cooper (@JohnCooper0610) June 27, 2017
@Twitter why are you blocking Live Action ads, but allowing planned parenthood? An ultrasound pic is NOT hate speech. #TwitterNazi
— ❤Dana❤ (@Black_Dana00) June 27, 2017
@Twitter Don’t block Free Speech! If you let Planned Parenthood advertise, let Live Action as well. How is showing an ultrasound offensive?
— AUL (@AULnel) June 27, 2017
@Twitter is as bad as the brainwashing mainstream media.Allowing Planned Parenthood 2 promote abortion tweets while blocking Pro-Life tweets
— Joanna Lower (@JoannaLower) June 27, 2017
Hey @twitter I am pro-life, and I think #PlannedParenthood helps end the lives of babies for no good reason. Is that hate speech?
— Laura O’Neill (@ONeillLaura) June 27, 2017
@Twitter,I think until you stop censoring news against planned parenthood,maybe I’ll start using Facebook.Dont like it as much,but I’m gone
— cw (@cwayne72445190) June 27, 2017
An overwhelming number of similar tweets can easily be found via the search tool on Twitter. It is obvious that fans of fair speech are outraged over Twitter’s blatant suppression of pro-life messages. A social media platform should not be secretly deciding for the public which side of the abortion debate we will be exposed to. We, the users of Twitter, have the right to information, and we object to Twitter’s inappropriate control over material – as well as their laughably pathetic attempts to explain how pro-life content is “offensive” and in violation of their policy.
By this logic, perhaps Twitter should ban itself from advertising, as some of its tweets could be considered “offensive” by its own arbitrary application of standards:
Editor’s Note: All op-eds are the opinion of the writer and not necessarily the official position of Live Action.
