Recent revelations from the Twitter Files have raised questions about the social media platform's independence from the Biden administration prior to Elon Musk's acquisition.

According to Just the News, the latest batch of internal emails suggests a close relationship between Twitter and federal agencies, particularly in the early months of President Biden's term.

The new information, reported by former Senate Finance Committee investigator Paul Thacker, shows that Twitter hired a strategic advisory firm with close ties to the Biden administration shortly after the inauguration.

This move came as the company sought assistance in dealing with censorship pressure from India, Twitter's third-largest market.

Twitter's Connection To Biden Administration Personnel

Within two weeks of Biden taking office, Twitter covertly hired Albright Stonebridge Group, a firm cofounded by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The company sought help from the State Department to address India's demands for content removal.

Around the same time, Politico reported that at least 10 alumni from Albright Stonebridge had taken top foreign policy positions in the Biden administration. These roles included high-ranking positions such as UN ambassador, deputy secretary of state, and undersecretary of state.

Notably, one of these alumni became chief of staff to Doug Emhoff, the husband of the current Democratic nominee for president and the first gentleman. This connection further illustrates the close ties between the advisory firm and the administration.

Questions Of Independence And Coordination

The new revelations challenge claims made by Democrats, including House Weaponization Subcommittee's top Democrat, Delegate Stacey Plaskett. Previously, Plaskett had asserted that "real evidence showed" no coordination between Twitter and federal agencies.

However, Thacker argues that these internal emails demonstrate Twitter's significant reliance on the Biden administration and allied lobbyists to manage problems in India. This dependency, he suggests, calls into question the platform's ability to make independent decisions regarding censorship.

Plaskett's office has not responded to queries about how she perceives pre-Musk Twitter's relationship with the Biden administration in light of the new evidence.

Twitter's Collaboration With State Department

The emails reveal that Twitter executives began collaborating with the State Department to address censorship issues in India. This occurred even as the State Department and its grantee, the Atlantic Council, pressured Twitter to censor content.

In one instance, Twitter's then-trust and safety chief, Yoel Roth, had previously mocked the accuracy of lists provided by the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab and the State Department's Global Engagement Center. Yet, the company continued to seek advice from these entities.

Thacker writes:

India censoring of social media drove Twitter right into the arms of [a] lobby shop of foreign policy experts staffing the Biden administration. How can a company [be] reliant on government advice and help make decisions independent of that same government?

Global Implications Of Twitter's Operations

The new Twitter Files tranche is particularly relevant in light of criticism directed at Elon Musk for allegedly bending to foreign government's censorship demands.

Critics have accused Musk of hypocrisy for claiming the Biden administration was censoring Americans while complying with other countries' requests.

However, the emails show that pre-Musk Twitter was already grappling with these issues, particularly in India. The company sought help from the State Department to navigate India's demands for content removal, especially regarding criticism of its COVID-19 response.

These revelations provide a complex picture of Twitter's operations before Musk's takeover. They suggest a closer relationship with the Biden administration than previously acknowledged, raising questions about the platform's independence in content moderation decisions.

The emails also highlight the challenges social media companies face in balancing free speech with government demands across different jurisdictions. The connection between Twitter, Albright Stonebridge, and key figures in the Biden administration adds another layer to the ongoing debate about social media regulation and political influence.