Senior party members are selecting the social media replies they want to shield from the public.
As an election looms, unwelcome comments on immigration, housing and tax are disappearing,
For more than three months, Sinn Féin has been quietly censoring criticism of the party — and even some praise. Analysis by the Sunday Independent shows how the practice was started by Mary Lou McDonald in June, then followed by her party.
It has gone to considerable effort to hide claims that it is soft on immigration, is cynically changing position in an attempt to win back votes and is part of the establishment.
Criticism of its transgender policy and of McDonald's leadership, and claims that it has lost touch with its voters, plus reminders of IRA atrocities and criticism involving IRA victims such as murdered Jean McConville and Máiría Cahill have also been censored.
In June, McDonald quietly started to "hide” unwelcome replies to her posts on X.
Among the hidden tweets were vile abuse, conspiracy theories, open racism and the automated spam that pollutes social media.
Many would argue that removing such material improves the quality of debate for others. However, Sinn Féin has been going far beyond removing insults and abhorrent views. Much of the censored material was respectful and did not involve personal abuse, but raised points of legitimate political debate.
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