Twitter recently announced that it will begin a crackdown on “synthetic and manipulated media” which is leading to fears that in the months leading up to the 2020 election, the much-feared political meme may end up banned.

Everyone knows liberals can’t meme, so they’re trying everything they can to censor the clever and effective modern memory that has helped boost support for Trump.

On Monday, Twitter announced that it was “working on a new policy to address synthetic and manipulated media on Twitter.”

The Tech Giant claims that “synthetic and manipulated media” is “media that’s been significantly altered or created in a way that changes the original meaning/purpose, or makes it seem like certain events took place that didn’t actually happen.”

Amazingly, they’re not talking about the left-wing Democratic-mainstream-media complex.

“We’re always updating our rules based on how online behaviors change. We’re working on a new policy to address synthetic and manipulated media on Twitter – but first we want to hear from you,” they wrote.

“What’s synthetic and manipulated media?

It’s media that’s been significantly altered or created in a way that changes the original meaning/purpose, or makes it seem like certain events took place that didn’t actually happen.”

Twitter Safety✔@TwitterSafety

We’re always updating our rules based on how online behaviors change. We’re working on a new policy to address synthetic and manipulated media on Twitter – but first we want to hear from you.

562

6:07 PM – Oct 21, 2019

605 people are talking about this

Twitter Safety✔@TwitterSafety

 · Oct 21, 2019

We’re always updating our rules based on how online behaviors change. We’re working on a new policy to address synthetic and manipulated media on Twitter – but first we want to hear from you.

Twitter Safety✔@TwitterSafety

What’s synthetic and manipulated media?
It’s media that’s been significantly altered or created in a way that changes the original meaning/purpose, or makes it seem like certain events took place that didn’t actually happen.

156

6:07 PM – Oct 21, 2019

177 people are talking about this

Give me a break.

Twitter users were quick to note that this definition of “synthetic media” could be sued to describe memes or other satirical media intended to be humorous and make a point but not necessarily meant to be interpreted as factually accurate.

“The majority of responses back to Twitter Safety’s post was that the move was expected and grounded in hurt feelings of Democrats to put controls on Republicans before the 2020 Presidential election,” writes Kari Donovan.

If Twitter does begin to censor memes, they wouldn’t be the first Big Tech megalith to do so.

Instagram announced earlier this year that they would use “52 global fact-checking partners” to censor “false photos and memes on its platform,” according to Poynter.

Last year, Facebook, who owns Instagram, announced they’d be developing an AI algorithm that can detect and effectively ban “offensive” memes.

Meanwhile, in September, the Pentagon declared war on memes while DARPA launched a new program to combat “polarizing viral content” before it spreads.

Summit News notes:

A study undertaken by researchers at University College London found that the most effective memes in the run up to the 2016 presidential election largely originated in two places – the subreddit r/the_donald – a forum devoted to boosting President Donald Trump, and 4chan’s politically incorrect /pol forum.

A VICE write-up of the study acknowledges that the most “effectively spread” memes originated on r/the_donald and /pol.

The Donald subreddit was subsequently placed in quarantine and 4chan has been repeatedly blamed as a radicalizing outpost for mass shooters and right-wing extremists.