UK-funded psyop outfit Integrity Initiative locks Twitter account after wiping content from website
After wiping its website clean pending a ‘probe’ into embarrassing leaks, the British state-funded Integrity Initiative (II) has hidden its Twitter account from the public, meaning only ‘approved’ followers can see its activity.
The Scotland-based organization, which received roughly £2 million in government funding over the last 18 months, had fashioned itself as a benign charity fighting “disinformation” online.
That was until a series of leaks, posted online by a group that claimed to be associated with the Anonymous hacker collective, revealed that it had been working with “clusters” of journalists, politicians and academics to engage in shady anti-Russia ‘influence’ campaigns across Europe, as well as a domestic smear campaign against Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who it tried to frame as a tool of the Kremlin.
Also on rt.com Integrity Initiative wipes website pending probe into ‘theft’ of disturbing leaked dataThe decision to lock its Twitter account comes just a day after the II announced (via that Twitter account) that it had deleted all content from its website pending an investigation into the “theft” of its data.
A statement posted on the site claimed that some of the leaks had been “falsified” but didn’t include any evidence to back that up, leading to speculation that the organization was simply trying to clean house and prepare a credible excuse in the wake of the disturbing leaks.
Basically you've been outed for what you are and this facile attempt to conceal the truth will not work.
— Anna Geraldo (@AnnaG1968_) January 22, 2019
That perception has only intensified since it decided to hide its tweets from the public, with some wondering why the group would need to delete all of its content and hide its social media activity from the public if there was nothing questionable in its history.
Academic Tim Hayward tweeted that it was strange that a person now had to be an “accepted” follower in order to see how the II defends them from disinformation. Hayward said the move should force the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to “reconsider” its funding for the sketchy operation.
Integrity Initiative has locked its Twitter account. You have to be an accepted follower to hear how it defends you from disinformation. UK FCO surely needs to reconsider its commitment to funding the operation? pic.twitter.com/rh3f2t1U5N
— Tim Hayward (@Tim_Hayward_) January 23, 2019
Integrity @InitIntegrity Initiative has now protected its tweets. So - although it claims to be "tackling disinformation" - only approved followers can know about it? 😅 pic.twitter.com/NVDvVHvy20
— Not CNN T-101 (@Articlefifty50) January 23, 2019
Others complained that the general public should be allowed to view the activity of a taxpayer-funded organization and suggested that it would only make its account private if it had something to hide.
@InitIntegrity so much for ‘media freedom’, you can’t even see what they tweet unless you conform, hardly transparency when they don’t want to see or hear other views.
— Lindsey Smith (@firstfinequine) January 23, 2019
The #IntegrityInitiative#Twitter account is now 'protected'. There's nothing to hide, is there? Too many dots being joined it seems. pic.twitter.com/dsGtT1S3TY
— Fvnk (@WhatTheFvnk) January 23, 2019
The II has faced sharp criticism from alternative news outlets and independent journalists since the first batch of leaks were dumped in November, but little coverage from British and US mainstream media which has preferred to stay away from the story despite many questions about its funding and activities being left unanswered.
Like this story? Share it with a friend!
