Here's what's really terrifying about the Twitter employee who temporarily disabled Trump's account

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Here's what's really terrifying about the Twitter employee who temporarily disabled Trump's account on his last day

Alexei Oreskovic

14h

....
But there's really nothing funny or commendable about the momentary unplugging of the @realdonaldtrump account. In fact, it's terrifying.

Trump's Twitter account is an unprecedented phenomenon. The most powerful person in the world has a megaphone to say whatever comes across his mind instantly. There's no filter; no time delay; no take-backs.

Just think, what if the rogue support staffer on his last day decided to do something different. What if, instead of taking Trump's account offline, the staffer decided to fire off a tweet on Trump's account? Perhaps the staffer might have had Trump say something idiotic or embarrassing.* Perhaps the staffer might have had Trump bash a company's stock, in hopes of trading ahead of it and make a quick buck.

Or perhaps the departing Twitter employee might have composed a tweet declaring that missiles had been fired at an enemy regime like North Korea. ... Twitter has control over an internet-age nuclear weapon. We can't afford to trust that Twitter knows how to take care of it.

* How could you tell the difference?

[HopeAgain]

1. This is not on Twitter

This is on Trump, who is choosing to use an inappropriate platform to carry out international policy. Governing by social media is a bad idea.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Then Twitter should delete his account, saying that he presents an unacceptable security risk, and

that they don't want to be part of that threat.

[PoliticAverse]

2. What's to stop a President from joking about launching an attack on a country?...

Nothing apparently...

[LonePirate]

4. I am not sure this author knows much about modern internet security and design.

Short of cracking the account password, the employee should not have had any ability to send a tweet under that account. The potential liability is too great a risk for any tech company.

[PoliticAverse]

5. Yes the ability to suspend an account or even delete a specific tweet should be completely unrelated

to the ability to send a tweet as someone.

[yurbud]

6. none of his staffers are as stupid and reckless as him.