Idaho based internet provider to block Facebook and Twitter after ‘censorship’ complaints from customers

Your T1 WiFi, an internet provider based in northern Idaho, says it will block Facebook and Twitter from its WIFI service for some customers due to claims of censorship.

The company has decided to block the two social media platforms after receiving multiple complaints from customers.

“It has come to our attention that Twitter and Facebook are engaged in censorship of our customers and information,” the company said in an email to customers.

“Our company does not believe a website or social networking site has the authority to censor what you see and post and hide information from you, stop you from seeing what your friends and family are posting,” the email reads. “This is why with the amount of concerns, we have made this decision to block these two websites from being accessed from our network.”

The move comes after Facebook and Twitter banned outgoing president Donald Trump from their platforms. The social media giants claim to have taken the decision to prevent false information that could incite further violence following the tragic events at Capitol Hill. Big tech companies have come under pressure from lawmakers and civil rights advocates to be more proactive in moderating content that could lead to violence or illegal activity.

Smaller social media platforms like Parler have also been affected by the recent rollout of bans. Major web-hosting services including Google, Apple, and Amazon terminated agreements with the company, forcing the social app to go offline.

YourT1WiFi voiced support for Parler in the email, saying that it does not “condone what Google, Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and Apple are doing to Parler by trying to strong-arm them into submission.”

The email was shared on Twitter by Krista Yep – one of the company’s customers. The post went viral almost immediately, creating a misunderstanding that the Idaho-based company was blocking Facebook and Twitter for all its customers.

However, Bret Fink, founder, and CEO of YourT1WiFi, quickly clarified his comments and said that they will only limit access to social media sites for customers who request it.

In his email to Yep, Fink said he “probably could have worded that a better way as some people are getting confused and thinking everyone is getting blocked.”

YourT1WiFi’s decision goes into effect on Wednesday, 13th January 2021.