To the editor:

The week of December 3/4, Matt Tiabbi, formerly with Rolling Stone, with the approval of new Twitter owner Elon Musk, released the “Twitter Papers.” They confirmed that what some of what Twitter outright censored was at the urging of political campaigns and government.

The First Amendment prevents government restrictions on free speech. Government, however, did not hesitate to lobby to suppress what it deemed objectionable. And they often did.

Thursday, Dec. 8, Bari Weiss, formerly with the New York Times, dropped part two of the “Twitter Papers.” They revealed how Twitter employees used blacklists, shadow banning and visibility filtering.

They say here is more to come but I have seen enough to offer an opinion in some disagreement with The Journal’s Dec. 9 editorial.

I do not use Twitter. But if Elon Musk’s ownership results in a transparent forum for individuals to express what they believe without censorship to protect the powerful I think that is a good thing.

Bob Jentges

North Mankato