On October 3, 2018 we filed a report through Twitter’s DM reporting feature concerning Scientology’s OSA Fair Game account @TarynTeutsch. Prior to this, reports had already been made not only by us, but also by many concerned people who were furious at the level of online harassment being meted out.
Over the next nine months multiple attempts were made to have this account as well as it’s sister account @EPStandLeague removed from the social media platform.
That both accounts are guilty of egregious policy violations is clear.
Why they are given such preferential treatment is equally transparent; Jack Dorsey’s relationship with Scientology.
Under Dorsey’s protection, the Teflon Cult is free to accuse innocent people of heinous crimes, complicity to murder and arson and numerous other personal attacks.
Where one Anti-Scientology activist was immediately banned for tweeting “Scientology is not a fucking religion” for example, Edward Parkin’s @EPStandLeague page is riddled with post after post of harassment, hate, lies and personal attacks.
(People who followed @ISNOINews also may have noticed the absence of this activist on Twitter in recent months as well.)
When there was no response to any reports of these abusive accounts, on January 18, 2019 we sent an appeal by mail for fairness and justice to the Lead Council for Twitter, Vijaya Gadde.
This too was met by silence
Since then, preferential treatment for Scientology seems to have grown in direct proportion to the reports made against them.
Beyond the tacit permitting of cyber bullying and libel, instances of active repercussions against reporting parties have occurred.
Faced with report after report of violations perpetrated by @TarynTeutsch, @EPStandLeague and other COS created accounts, Twitter Support finally took action.
They banned this writer and Twitter user from further complaints.
Twitter’s privacy policy states, “Per our Privacy Policy, Twitter does not release account information except as required by valid legal process.”
Yet when the target of Edward Parkin’s harassment, Leah Remini, reported his actions what followed was yet another gleeful, sneering attack.
There could not have been a clearer message to Remini that she has no rights on Twitter than to have her privacy so publicly and blatantly violated.
Emboldened, Scientology continues to happily practice bullying, harassment, personal attacks and libel against anyone they judge worthy of abuse.
Just as COS awarded Nation of Islam Spokesman Tony Mohammed for his racist, hate and anti-Semitic actions, Twitter awarded Edward Parkin with the blue check mark of a Verified Account.
This mark according to Twitter, “lets people know that an account of public interest is authentic.”
“An account may be verified if it is determined to be an account of public interest. Typically this includes accounts maintained by users in music, acting, fashion, government, politics, religion, journalism, media, sports, business, and other key interest areas.”
Scientology claims to be a religion and Parkin pretends to be an ordained minister of this “church”.
That little blue check mark after his name is proof that Twitter agrees with these claims.
Here are just a few of the verified minister’s religious comments that twitter deems of religious public interest:
Having carte blanche, Minister Parkin continues to spread his religion’s campaign of hate almost daily.
The only tweet that appears to have been removed is one of the recent posts wherein this man of faith, tolerance and inclusion body shamed Leah Remini. However an earlier, similar personal smear still stands.
Upon discovering that Remini had been nominated for an Emmy (again) for her incredible work on the A&E series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, verified Minister Parkin posted a smug slap at the Producer and actress, telling the public that a coffee company was refusing to participate in the Emmy awards as a boycott to stand against hate.
Once again we attempted to address the fact that this post, like most of his others, is more of the same campaign of hate and harassment. We wrote a new letter, this time addressed to Twitter’s Public Policy Chief, Yoel Roth.
We included in that letter a quote from a response from The Academy concerning Parkin’s allegations against Remini.
It is reposted here:
“We’re reaching out to clarify a situation relating to Don Francisco Coffee that appeared in a series of tweets today. Don Francisco has been a valued partner of the Emmys and the Television Academy for a number of years. Unfortunately, due to issues solely related to the pandemic, they were not able to be a partner this year. To be clear, their sponsor status was determined several months ago, long before nominations were announced. Hoping that this helps clarify the situation for you. Wishing you all the best. Stay healthy and safe.
The Television Academy”
Don Francisco Coffee is part of F. Gaviña and Sons.
This lie was pointed out to Mr. Roth. As was proof of the other lies Minister Parkin (and @TarynTeutsch) is posting in order to attempt to destroy Remini’s reputation and character.
Our letter, dated August 26, 2020 has gone unacknowledged and unanswered.
Twitter has for years been criticized for allowing cyber bullying to flourish on it’s site.
In an article by Matt Kapko dated August 12, 2016 for Cio he states; “…Fenced in by an abiding commitment to free speech above all else and a unique product that makes moderation difficult and trolling almost effortless, Twitter has, over a chaotic first decade marked by shifting business priorities and institutional confusion, allowed abuse and harassment to continue to grow as a chronic problem and perpetual secondary internal priority.”
From all appearances, protecting Scientology’s right to abuse and harass is a primary priority.
Free speech is undoubtedly a protected right, however it doesn’t take a genius to recognize the difference between protected speech and abuse.
At least it shouldn’t.
Confronting the public, personal attacks on anyone with the single minded depth of malice that Scientology displays should be a no-brainer considering every form of policy violation possible is demonstrated almost on a daily basis.
All one need do is go to @EPStandLeague, click on “Media” and start scrolling. Tweet after tweet is one of hate and Fair Game from this religious minister.
Twitter sits back and does nothing even after they are shown evidence that the assertions the cult makes are patently false.
Like this current claim about Don Francisco Coffee.
Just as the First Amendment does not offer a free pass for religions to commit crimes, neither does Freedom of Speech intend an out for libel or slander. For this reason there are policy rules and even laws to protect people.
Jack Dorsey is the CEO of Twitter and his bias against anyone speaking out about the abuses of Scientology is obvious and disturbing.
“Somebody some day will say ‘this is illegal.’ By then be sure the orgs [Scientology organizations] say what is legal or not.”
– L. Ron Hubbard, Hubbard Communications Office Policy Letter, 4 January 1966, “LRH Relationship to Orgs”
It would appear that Dorsey is an excellent example of Hubbard’s directive.
Scientology knows it.
Confront And Shatter 