GDPR and lost "likes" on JKR's Twitter posts

[Crimesean]

As most of us are aware, Twitter covertly removes "likes" from posts the moderators dislike but can't ban because they're well within the rules.

I'm not an expert in GDPR law, but since I own my Twitter account (or rather the information posted), is there scope for me/other GC feminists to demand that Twitter release data on likes removed and explain why?

I'll seek legal advice before acting (which I can afford - this isn't a plea for crowdfunding!) but am wondering whether anyone has tried this tactic previously?

I don't know, but I'm very curious to find out what's going on. There's a recent BBC Radio programme, The Hackers, 'End User' episode, that discusses the role of 'troll farms' in manipulating social media, including with LGBTQ groups and the 'Karen' meme, but these manipulations are clearly coming from inside Twitter itself.

No idea but love the user name!

Interesting question. But I don't think you do own it, do you? Twitter owns everything. We just provide them with free content. I'm not sure how gdpr could be applied.

You can’t request that under GDPR as it isn’t your personal data that you are requesting.

You also can’t make a Freedom of information request as they are subject to FOI regulations (I know this as someone tried to force my firm to report under FOI)

@Crimesean

As most of us are aware, Twitter covertly removes "likes" from posts the moderators dislike but can't ban because they're well within the rules.

I'm not an expert in GDPR law, but since I own my Twitter account (or rather the information posted), is there scope for me/other GC feminists to demand that Twitter release data on likes removed and explain why?

I'll seek legal advice before acting (which I can afford - this isn't a plea for crowdfunding!) but am wondering whether anyone has tried this tactic previously?

Twitter don't do any such thing, it's an absolutely absurd conspiracy theory, and even if they were doing it it would have nothing to do with GDPR. You'd essentially be paying a lawyer to laugh at you.

@Crimesean

As most of us are aware, Twitter covertly removes "likes" from posts the moderators dislike but can't ban because they're well within the rules.

I'm not an expert in GDPR law, but since I own my Twitter account (or rather the information posted), is there scope for me/other GC feminists to demand that Twitter release data on likes removed and explain why?

I'll seek legal advice before acting (which I can afford - this isn't a plea for crowdfunding!) but am wondering whether anyone has tried this tactic previously?

NO Twitter does not "covertly" remove likes, this is the most annoying "gender critical" conspiracy for me as an IT worker. It's the way Twitter works and everyone who believes this absolutely crazy conspiracy could easily prove that to themselves.

Go like twitter.com/EmmaWatson/status/1270826851070619649

• It got 3x the likes of the JK Rowling tweet that some GC people seem to revere (not a cult)

Then check in a few days / weeks / months. My like has "gone", but if I like it again it doesn't appear in my profile->likes tab because it just wasn't being tracked. It was never actually "removed".

The GDPR stuff is so bananas I won't even attempt to cover that part.

You'd essentially be paying a lawyer to laugh at you.

Whereas we all laugh at you for free.

@aliasundercover

You'd essentially be paying a lawyer to laugh at you.

Whereas we all laugh at you for free.

I can sleep easy in my bed knowing I'm not nearly as funny as the author of this post and anyone who believes similar nonsense.

What oolon said.
Also, you don't own your content on Twitter.
Twitter does, and GDPR, just no.
Your whole post, just no to every bit of it, don't even know how to start unpacking it!
A court would be the same and just thinking WTF

I very much doubt it.

You own the intellectual property - the content of the Tweets - as per their terms of service.

However, you don't own someone else's Like. Your own Likes show up on your page, so if anyone does, I'd imagine they do (although having trawled their ToS, I can't see they specify that anyone does).

Plus, the ToS says:

"By submitting, posting or displaying Content on or through the Services, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense) to use, copy, reproduce, process, adapt, modify, publish, transmit, display and distribute such Content in any and all media or distribution methods now known or later developed (for clarity, these rights include, for example, curating, transforming, and translating)."

I imagine displaying it with any number of Likes they want is covered under 'adapt' or 'modify' so you'll be out of luck there.

@aliasundercover

You'd essentially be paying a lawyer to laugh at you.

Whereas we all laugh at you for free.

You'd essentially be paying a lawyer to laugh at you. More succintly put than me

No GDPR rules aim to protect EU citizens personal data (name, dob, health information, address etc).

GDPR has nothing to do with Twitter likes...

Hang on - but doesn't it also pertain to the right to information that they hold about you? Which includes the information you have given them. And if a like you give a post is repeatedly disappearing, then surely that indicates they are making a change to that information, which you are entitled to know about? I'd be interested in pushing it further

Wasn't this based on something the Twitter engineer Dana McCallum said? twitter.com/notcursede/status/1371821080244060162

I science a bit, so I regularly check another post I liked at the same time I first liked JK's #ThisIsNotADrill, which I find and re-like most days, and funnily enough, it doesn't happen to the control post.

If this is just some bonkers conspiracy, why is it that my liking a post frequently makes the likes drop by one before my very eyes? But this never happens on non-GC content.

If I refresh the page, its still not there. Its not just big accounts like JK Rowling, it seems to be anyone on the 'terf block' list. I can see the like removed from posts that have none, or one or two likes.

OP, if you are persuaded to throw your money at this, I implore you to at least update us on what the lawyer said to you, I could use a bit of a laugh.

I can sleep easy in my bed knowing I'm not nearly as funny as the author of this post and anyone who believes similar nonsense.

Oh I'm sure there are many things that would keep most of us on here up at night whilst you are sleeping easy in your bed knowing about them.

I do watch liked drop off tweets sometimes. It could just be a glitch I suppose...

Interesting thought, OP. Also interesting how quickly the men’s rights crowd leapt on to assure us this isn’t happening, nothing to see here!

Men's rights crowd?!
Erm, no just posters pointing out what actually happens with likes, and that GDPR has nowt to do with it either.
Go ahead with your conspiracy theories by all means then and ignore those pesky reasonable posts if it makes you feel any better.
As you say, nothing to see here!

@unwashedanddazed

If this is just some bonkers conspiracy, why is it that my liking a post frequently makes the likes drop by one before my very eyes? But this never happens on non-GC content.

So why does it happen to this post? Seriously, go like it and watch your "like" disappear. twitter.com/EmmaWatson/status/1270826851070619649

So ridiculous people believe this conspiracy, the "TRAs" have access to manipulate a core function of Twitter away from the norm for reasons that are not clear. But they don't have access to suspend anti-trans accounts, a normal function of twitter. Classic lack of critical thinking.

My likes on JKR's famous tweet disappear, my likes on her other, non-women's-rights related tweets remain. The total number of likes were capped until the likes-removing issue went more mainstream and was commented on by some blue tick accounts, and then they were mysteriously allowed to rise for a while (like a swimmer slowing down in reverse). I've just looked today and my like has gone again.