Jack Dorsey: The Bitcoin network as a guide to the Internet; Trump’s ban a dangerous precedent

Jack Dorsey, in a series of tweets, explained how challenging it was to decide on the temporary ban of the account of U.S. President Donald Trump. The Twitter CEO reminded of the social network he runs toward a decentralized future, akin to Bitcoin, where such a problem could not arise in principle.

I do not celebrate or feel pride in our having to ban @realDonaldTrump from Twitter, or how we got here. After a clear warning we’d take this action, we made a decision with the best information we had based on threats to physical safety both on and off Twitter. Was this correct?

— jack (@jack) January 14, 2021

Last week Twitter, along with other social platforms, decided to ban Trump’s accounts after a series of controversial posts. One of them was the statement by the current White House occupant that his supporters went to storm the Capitol, because he had been told that his victory in the election had been stolen.

Dorsey is sure the decision was correct because Trump’s actions threatened public safety. At the same time he acknowledged that the block created a dangerous precedent and could have “real and significant consequences.” He believes that in this case the companies effectively resembled the government.

“We all must take a critical look at the discrepancies between our policy and enforcement. Yes, we need to determine what on our platform could incite discord and harm. Yes, we need more transparency in our moderation operations,” he explained.

Dorsey explained that he does not want Twitter’s unilateral actions to “destroy the free and open global Internet.” He suggested that the Bitcoin decentralization model offers the best path toward control and restraint online in the future.

“The first cryptocurrency demonstrates what the Internet wants to be, and over time it will resemble it. My passion for Bitcoin is rooted in its nature. Its foundational technology is not controlled and is not subject to the influence of any single person or organization,” he explained.

The Twitter chief closed his remarks by noting that Twitter is financing the development of an open, decentralized standard for social networks called @bluesky.

In November, Dorsey was among the sponsors of a new fund for Bitcoin developers.

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