An internet service provider in North Idaho is offering to block Facebook and Twitter from its WiFi service after some customers complained about censorship following the two companies’ decisions to block President Donald Trump from their sites, KREM reported.
Your T1 WiFi reportedly said it would block both platforms for customers who requested such actions after being informed that “Twitter and Facebook are engaged in censorship of our customers and information,” the service provider said in an email to customers, according to KREM.
Customers reportedly contacted the company asking them to not provide access to Twitter or Facebook due to alleged censorship and concerns over their children having access to the sites. Initially, there appeared to be confusion over whether Your T1 WiFi would be blocking Twitter and Facebook en masse, but the company later specified that the block was an individual choice.
Trump was blocked from Twitter and Facebook, along with Facebook-owned Instagram, after pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol Building on the same day that the Senate was scheduled to certify the election of President-elect Joe Biden. The companies claimed that Trump’s account presented a risk of further inciting violence. (RELATED: President Donald Trump Blocked From Facebook And Instagram ‘Indefinitely’ After Platforms Used To ‘Incite Violent Insurrection’)
Twitter also carried out a massive purge of accounts after the riot. Many conservative-learning large Twitter accounts noticed a significant drop in followers in the days following the incident, sometimes totaling in the tens of thousands.
A Twitter user posted the alleged email that T1 WiFi sent to customers, which said that such a large quantity of people had reached out that they would block the sites for all customers, and then give access to those who reached out requesting Twitter or Facebook not be blocked.
Umm from my North Idaho internet provider…. this is INSANE. pic.twitter.com/vzy9tSDRAp
— krista yep (@yes4yep) January 10, 2021
Update: extreme nonsense pic.twitter.com/ouV2Tcxqch
— krista yep (@yes4yep) January 11, 2021
“Our company does not believe a website or social networking site has the authority to censor what you see and post and hide information from you, stop you from seeing what your friends and family are posting,” the email reads.
KREM reports that another email was sent Monday saying the service provider would not be blocking the sites for customers who had not requested to be blocked. In a phone call with KREM, Brett Fink, who owns T1 Wifi, affirmed the position that Twitter and Facebook would only be blocked for customers who make that request.
Since Twitter and Facebook are private companies, blocking users from using their services does not constitute a free speech infringement. However, some have criticized social media and big tech company’s actions as being politically motivated.