Twitter locks QAnon-linked Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene's account for 'multiple policy violations'

The social media platform suspended the congressional newcomer's account for 12 hours after "multiple violations" of its civic integrity policy.

Marjorie Taylor Greene in the US Capitol in Washington, DC on Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Marjorie Taylor Greene in the US Capitol in Washington DC on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 Source: US House TV via CNP/Sipa USA

Twitter has locked the account of Republican US congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a political newcomer known for promoting the baseless QAnon conspiracy theory.

The social media platform on Monday suspended her account for 12 hours after the newly-elected Georgia congresswoman sparred with a state election official over baseless voter fraud allegations.

Ms Greene’s account “has been temporarily locked out for multiple violations” of Twitter’s ‘civic integrity policy’, a company representative said in an emailed statement.

Ms Greene accused Twitter of suppressing conservative political voices.

“The borderline monopolistic stranglehold a few Big Tech companies have on the American political discourse is out of control,” she said in a statement.

Ms Greene promoted online conspiracy theory QAnon in a 2017 video but later backtracked, saying it was not part of her campaign. She won a House seat in conservative rural northwest Georgia after her Democratic opponent dropped out.
QAnon backers have pushed conspiracies on social media that include the baseless claim that US President Donald Trump secretly is fighting a cabal of child-sex predators, among them prominent Democrats, figures in Hollywood and “deep state” allies.

Twitter suspended after the violence in Washington earlier this month when supporters of Mr Trump stormed the US Capitol.

The attack on the Capitol by Trump supporters delayed certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory by several hours that day, as politicians were forced to flee to seek safety from the angry mob who had overwhelmed security forces.

Five people died in the violence, including one Capitol Police officer.

After the attack, Twitter removed Mr Trump’s account, which had 88 million followers, due to the risk of further violence.

Mr Trump, who has challenged the validity of Mr Biden’s victory without producing evidence, initially praised his supporters but later condemned the violence.


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Published 18 January 2021 3:40pm
Source: Reuters, SBS


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