Update June 24, 2020: We have successfully appealed and I am back! Please follow me here:
Twitter has permanently banned me from their platform. I am locked out of both my accounts, @bdmarotta and @circmovie, and cannot create any new account from my phone number, despite following all Twitter rules. I have received no reply for two weeks after emailing Twitter support, so I am sharing the story here.
In order to get back into my accounts, twitter is asking me to enter a verification code sent to my phone. The problem is – the verification code is never sent to my phone. I know twitter can text me, because when I text their support number I received automated replies. They simply will not send a verification code to allow me back into my account for whatever reason.
If I try to register a new account, I receive the same problem. After a certain amount of use, Twitter asks you to verify your phone number, which I cannot do because of the same problem where it never sends a verification code. I could use a friend’s phone number, but Twitter has effectively permanently banned mine due to this authentication block.
This ban comes on the heels of two things. First, an article I wrote saying the medical organizations should not be given censorship power over twitter, which you can read here. Second, a social network I am developing and preparing to launch for activist organizing entering private beta.
My previous tweets are still on the platform. You can see that nothing I shared violated Twitter’s rules. Prior to the ban, I had multiple friends and followers suggested I should apply for a verified blue checkmark badge. The account for my film only made automated tweets sharing advertisements for our film, which was on Netflix and covered by multiple mainstream publications.
This is a stealth ban, because it masks itself as “temporary” when it is really permanent and prevents me from accessing the account while making it look like I’m still there.
I reached out to Twitter support June 6, 2020. At the time I am writing, I have not received any human reply. You can contact Twitter Support here.
If you are interested in following my work, I would recommend subscribing to my email list here.
I am developing censorship-resistant activist tools. My new platform is currently in private beta, but when we announce it to the general public, that email list will be the first to hear about it.
If you are serious about organizing or making your voice heard, you cannot rely on existing social networks. We have to create our own. My solution is currently in development. Subscribe here.
In the meantime, a “friend” has created a new fan account for me on Twitter which you can follow @MarottaBrendon. It might share some things on my behalf. It is not registered to my phone number.
Update: Since the publication of this post, Twitter has moved from claiming they are “temporarily redistricting” the account to an outright ban. They have still not contacted me to respond to my appeal or let me know why the ban was given in the first place.
