27 January 2023
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 request under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) 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).
Executive Wing, Parliament Buildings, Wellington, New Zealand 6011
4702387
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=
WcJ7Tf3x9l-nPdSwEOGK6g
”
On 22 December 2022, we wrote to you and advised that your request, as it is currently
framed, has not been specified with due particularity as per section 12(2) of the OIA. We
further advised that we consider it reasonably necessary for your request to be clarified in
order for us to respond appropriately and requested that you provide clarity and particularity
on the six points of your request. On 27 December 2022, you responded and noted that you
are confident that your request meets the “due particularity” test.
I have decided to extend the time limits for deciding on your request by an additional 14
working days under section 15A of the Act. Consequently, the extended due date for your
response will be 17 February 2023. The extension is required because of the consultations
necessary to make a decision on your request. Despite the extension, a response will be sent
to you as soon as possible.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to investigate and review my decision under section
28(3) of the Act.
Yours sincerely
Amy Teague
Manager, Ministerial Services
3249891
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