Twitter bans 70 pro-Bloomberg accounts
The social media network accused supporter accounts of ‘platform manipulation’


A clutch of 70 Twitter accounts backing Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg have been banned from the site amid accusations they were attempting to manipulate the platform.
As reported first by the Los Angeles Times, several accounts owned by Mr. Bloomberg organizers posted identical tweets back in November 2019, although their activity was not brought to light until now. These include a reference to Barbara Streisand’s support for the candidate, stating: “A president is born: Barbra Streisand sings Mike’s praises. Check out her tweet.”
Once the issue was brought to the attention of Twitter by the LA Times, the social media company determined that such co-ordinated tweets violated its spam and platform manipulation policy, and suspended the accounts.
In a statement to Reuters, the company said: “We took enforcement action on about 70 accounts, which includes a combination of permanent suspensions and account challenges to verify ownership.”
It’s speculated that these accounts may belong to unpaid supporters or campaign volunteers.
It’s understood that Bloomberg’s presidential campaign is specifically targeting social media as a channel to influence voter opinion. Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal reported: “[The] campaign is hiring hundreds of workers in California to post regularly on their personal social-media accounts in support of the candidate and send text messages to their friends about him.”
Twitter has taken a firm line on political activity on its platform. In April 2019, it targeted users who were using the service for the purposes of “manipulating or interfering in elections”.
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
Then in October last year CEO Jack Dorsey announced it would ban all political advertising in the runup to the 2020 Presidential election in a series of tweets.
Facebook, by contrast, has decided to take limited action against these sorts of activity. The company announced it wouldn’t subject political ads to third-party fact checking in the same way other posts are. In February this year, it was also forced to admit it was allowing U.S.-based political candidates to run sponsored or content across not just its main platform, but also its popular photo, video and image-sharing site, Instagram

Jane McCallion is Managing Editor of ITPro and ChannelPro, specializing in data centers, enterprise IT infrastructure, and cybersecurity. Before becoming Managing Editor, she held the role of Deputy Editor and, prior to that, Features Editor, managing a pool of freelance and internal writers, while continuing to specialize in enterprise IT infrastructure, and business strategy.
Prior to joining ITPro, Jane was a freelance business journalist writing as both Jane McCallion and Jane Bordenave for titles such as European CEO, World Finance, and Business Excellence Magazine.
-
The IT industry’s shift to circular, low-carbon solutions
Maximize your hardware investment and reach your sustainability goals with HP’s Renew Solutions
-
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition review
Reviews This thin and light ultraportable will draw you in with its vibrant screen – but it isn't as powerful as some of its competitors
-
Who owns the data used to train AI?
Analysis Elon Musk says he owns it – but Twitter’s terms and conditions suggest otherwise
-
Elon Musk confirms Twitter CEO resignation, allegations of investor influence raised
News Questions have surfaced over whether Musk hid the true reason why he was being ousted as Twitter CEO behind a poll in which the majority of users voted for his resignation
-
Businesses to receive unique Twitter verification badge in platform overhaul
News There will be new verification systems for businesses, governments, and individuals - each receiving differently coloured checkmarks
-
Ex-Twitter tech lead says platform's infrastructure can sustain engineering layoffs
News Barring major changes the platform contains the automated systems to keep it afloat, but cuts could weaken failsafes further
-
‘Hardcore’ Musk decimates Twitter staff benefits, mandates weekly code reviews
News The new plans from the CEO have been revealed through a series of leaked internal memos
-
Twitter could charge $20 a month for 'blue tick' verification, following Musk takeover
News Developers have allegedly been given just seven days to implement the changes or face being fired
-
Twitter reports largest ever period for data requests in new transparency report
News The company pointed to the success of its moderation systems despite increasing reports, as governments increasingly targeted verified journalists and news sources
-
IT Pro News In Review: Cyber attack at Ikea, Meta ordered to sell Giphy, new Twitter CEO
Video Catch up on the biggest headlines of the week in just two minutes