While people around the world are celebrating Christmas, WikiLeaks founder Julain Assange had a pretty bad day. It all started this morning when Assange’s official Twitter account suddenly disappeared and magically appeared back after few hours.
Then came a mysterious Tweet from the US Navy saying “Julian Assange” that was quickly deleted.
Here a screenshot of the deleted @USNavy Christmas tweet about @JulianAssange. Note the use of quotation marks.https://t.co/Asfw6cH6C7 pic.twitter.com/7Gg6mVOoCx
— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) December 25, 2017
The reason for this tweet according to the US Navy was that it happened because Assange’s name was among top trending topics.
“This morning, an inadvertent keystroke by an authorized user of the U.S. Navy Office of Information’s Digitial Media Engagement Team caused the trending term ‘Julian Assange’ to be tweeted from the Navy’s official Twitter account,” the Navy said on Twitter. “The inadvertent tweet was briefly posted for a few second before it was quickly deleted by the same authorized user. The inadvertent tweet was sent during routine monitoring of trending topics.
This morning, an inadvertent keystroke by an authorized user of the U.S. Navy Office of Information’s Digitial Media Engagement Team caused the trending term “Julian Assange” to be tweeted from the Navy’s official Twitter account (@USNavy). (1/2)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) December 25, 2017
The inadvertent tweet was briefly posted for a few second before it was quickly deleted by the same authorized user. The inadvertent tweet was sent during routine monitoring of trending topics. (2/2)
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) December 25, 2017
In reply, several WikiLeaks fans questioned the actual motive of the tweet since it was posted when Assange’s Twitter disappeared. Some questioned the reason why Navy was scanning Twitter trends.
Here are some tweets from WikiLeaks supporters:
Why is the @USNavy scanning Twitter tends? Sounds like an immense waste of time and money
— Captain Dad 🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇🥇 (@lolnochillwavve) December 25, 2017
Both Twitter and Facebook are the eyes of the intelligence agencies.
— Terri 🙏⏳🇺🇸 (@trbrad62) December 25, 2017
That inadvertent keystroke being “Enter” ????
— Organic Vandal (@OrganicVandal) December 25, 2017
Perhaps if @JulianAssange wasn’t on the Navy’s radar 👀 causing “an inadvertent keystroke,” the Navy could focus on their job…thus, two fatal collisions that resulted in the deaths of 17 sailors during 2017, would have been avoided. ❗️
— Robbin Young (@Robbin_Young) December 25, 2017
Fishy
— Guccifer4.0 (@guccifer4) December 25, 2017
It is unclear why Assange’s Twitter disappeared, however, WikiLeaks addressed the issue in the following tweet:
“Despite some oddities from the US Navy and Twitter today and increased physical surveillance Julian Assange’s physical situation at the embassy remains unaltered–confined without charge in violation of two UN rulings requiring the UK to set him free.”
Good news for WikiLeaks followers is that at the time of publishing this article; Assange’s Twitter account was back in action. He also replied to Navy’s tweet with following illustration:
https://t.co/bAzAbu9LI4 pic.twitter.com/XoqynPyZsY
— Julian Assange 🔹 (@JulianAssange) December 25, 2017
