Democratic Primary: Twitter Suspends Dozens Of Pro-Bloomberg Accounts For 'Platform Manipulation'

Social media giant Twitter suspended 70 accounts posting content that supports Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg for spam and “platform manipulation,” the Los Angeles Times reported Friday.

The accounts often used similar images and language to promote the candidate, violating Twitter rules against “creating multiple accounts to post duplicative content.” and “coordinating with or compensating others to engage in artificial engagement or amplification, even if the people involved use only one account.”

Twitter in November expanded its political ad ban, while providing new guidelines for organizations advertising specific political causes.

Bloomberg, one of the richest men in America, has hired hundreds of workers in California to promote his campaign on their social media accounts, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, with the workers receiving $2,500 a month for their efforts. He has also paid influencers on social media to post pro-Bloomberg memes, a possible strategy to target younger people.

Bloomberg has spent some $452 million on advertisements since launching his campaign in November. Bloomberg will not be on the ballot until Super Tuesday on March 3, when 14 Democratic primaries will take place.

Bloomberg has been accused of “buying” the Democratic nomination, due to his wealth and the amount spent on advertisements. He has also faced criticism due to the stop-and-frisk policy he implemented as the mayor of New York City and perceived sexist comments he made as CEO of his company Bloomberg L.P.