13 January 2022
J Schofield
[FYI request #21370 email]
Ref: OIA-2022/23-0413
Dear J Schofield
Official Information Act request for communications with Twitter’s SRT-GET and SIP-
PES
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) of 9 December 2022.
You have requested:
1. “I request all documents held that constitute communications between
the Prime Minister, other Ministers, or other NZ Government officials,
agencies or agents and; Twitter's Strategic Response Team - Global
Escalation Team (SRT-GET), and Twitter's Site Integrity Policy,
Policy Escalation Support (SIP-PES).
2. Please
consider
SRT-GET
and
SIP-PES
to
include
any
known/potential members of that team, and any high ranked
officials/employees at Twitter. Specifically but not exclusively this
includes Jack Dorsey, Vijaya Gadde, Yoel Roth, Parag Agrawal, as
identified as SIP-PES members by Ms Bari Weiss.
3. I seek any communications relating to requests by NZ govt persons
or entities and Twitter that seek to suppress or alter the dissemination
of any information tweeted by any person known or thought to be
either or both a New Zealand citizen/permanent resident and/or
located within New Zealand (incl any overseas territory/overseas NZ
govt controlled location).
4. I also request all documents held that may constitute similar
discussions or communications that may be of any international
public interest.
5. I also request all documents held that constitute any discussion of
suppression of any information whatsoever, between the same NZ
Govt persons and twitter-related persons.
6. I also request all documents held that constitute NZ-govt internal
policies or discussions relating to the suppression or algorithmic
alteration of the dissemination of information by Twitter, Facebook,
and Instagram.
I limit the period covered by this request to the period between 1
January 2019 and today's date (9 December 2022).
4695366
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz
Please reference the #TwitterFiles by journalists Matt Tiabbi and Bari
Weiss, brought to us by Twitter's new owner, notable gigachad Elon
Musk.
Specifically;
"12. The group that decided whether to limit the reach of certain users
was the Strategic Response Team - Global Escalation Team, or SRT-
GET. It often handled up to 200 "cases" a day.
13. But there existed a level beyond official ticketing, beyond the
rank-and-file moderators following the company’s policy on paper.
That is the “Site Integrity Policy, Policy Escalation Support,” known as
“SIP-PES.
14. This secret group included Head of Legal, Policy, and Trust
(Vijaya Gadde), the Global Head of Trust & Safety (Yoel Roth),
subsequent CEOs Jack Dorsey and Parag Agrawal, and others".
These tweets are available from this link –
www.twitter.com/bariweiss/status/1601007575633305600?s=20&t=W
cJ7Tf3x9l-nPdSwEOGK6g
”
I believe that a portion in Parts One and Two of your request for communications is more
closely connected to the functions of the Prime Minister, Rt Hon Jacinda Ardern. Please note
that I have extended the 10 working day time-limit available to make this transfer. This
extension was required because of the consultations needed to make a decision on your
request.
For clarity, I am referring to your request for communications between the Prime Minister and
“
Twitter's Strategic Response Team - Global Escalation Team (SRT-GET), and Twitter's Site
Integrity Policy, Policy Escalation Support (SIP-PES) [including]
any known/potential
members of that team, and any high ranked officials/employees at Twitter. Specifically but
not exclusively this includes Jack Dorsey, Vijaya Gadde, Yoel Roth, Parag Agrawal, as
identified as SIP-PES members by Ms Bari Weiss” (Twitter).
Accordingly, I have decided under section 14(b)(ii) of the Act to transfer these parts of your
request to the Prime Minister. The other parts of the request have not been transferred, and
we will respond in due course.
The Prime Minister has the usual timeframes under the Act from receipt of this transfer to
make a decision on your request.
Yours sincerely
Amy Teague
Manager, Ministerial Services
4695366
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
64 4 817 9700 Facsimile 64 4 472 3181 www.dpmc.govt.nz
