Twitter chief defends Trump ban, but says it sets a ‘dangerous’ precedent

Jack Dorsey said suspending Donald Trump’s account was ‘the right decision’ but also represents a failure to promote healthy conversation on the platform

Meanwhile, Snapchat has joined other social media companies in banning the US president after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington

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Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said that while the ban was called for now, taking actions to fragment public conversation could be ‘destructive to the noble purpose and ideals of the open internet’ over the long term. Photo: AFP

Published: 1:34pm, 14 Jan 2021Updated: 9:16pm, 14 Jan 2021

Twitter chief Jack Dorsey backed the messaging platform’s ban of US President Donald Trump, but said on Wednesday it sets a “dangerous” precedent.

“Having to ban an account has real and significant ramifications,” Dorsey said in a string of tweets inviting feedback from users.

“While there are clear and obvious exceptions, I feel a ban is a failure of ours ultimately to promote healthy conversation.”

Trump’s access to social media platforms he has used as a megaphone during his presidency has been largely cut off since a violent mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington last week. Operators say he could use his accounts to foment more unrest in the run-up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Twitter’s decision to permanently suspend Trump is considered overdue by critics who argue he got away with abuses, but has inflamed members of the far right who say it stifles free speech.