Conservative commentator and right-wing Twitter personality, Matt Walsh, has recently found himself in the middle of controversy after his Twitter account was hacked. According to reports from Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/joewalsh/2020/10/29/wired-journalist-banned-from-twitter-for-reporting-on-hack-of-anti-trans-activist-matt-walsh/?sh=5a5b5c3f5d5d) and Gizmodo (https://gizmodo.com/matt-walshs-twitter-hacker-says-he-was-just-stirring-up-1845545200), the hacker gained access to Walsh’s account using the SIM swapping technique. The hacker, who goes by the name of “Doomed,” claimed to have only been “stirring up some drama” with the hack.
This came after Walsh had made controversial headlines in the past for his anti-LGBTQ+ views. In fact, The Advocate (https://www.advocate.com/news/2020/10/29/right-wing-anti-lgbtq-troll-matt-walshs-twitter-account-phone-hacked) reported that Walsh had threatened to execute doctors who provided healthcare to transgender individuals. This has garnered attention from many LGBTQ+ activists who have also criticized Walsh for his hateful rhetoric.
As a result of the hack, Wired journalist Dell Cameron was banned from Twitter after reporting on the incident (https://www.thedailybeast.com/journalist-banned-from-twitter-after-reporting-on-hack-of-matt-walshs-account). This has raised concerns about freedom of speech and censorship on social media platforms.
Meanwhile, the University of Iowa faced protests from students over Walsh’s scheduled appearance (https://www.kcrg.com/2020/10/28/univ-of-iowa-students-protest-conservative-commentator-matt-walshs-appearance-on-campus/) on their campus. This highlights the polarizing effect that Walsh’s controversial views have had on the general public.
To make matters worse, Matt Walsh is not only under fire for the hack, but he may also face more scrutiny after Daily Wire co-founder Jeremy Boreing revealed that hackers had access to 20 years’ worth of Walsh’s emails (https://www.mediaite.com/news/daily-wire-cofounder-reveals-hackers-got-20-years-of-matt-walshs-emails/). It remains to be seen what, if any, sensitive information may be leaked.
Overall, it appears that Matt Walsh’s actions have stirred up a lot of drama and controversy, bringing attention to the deep divide between conservative and liberal ideals in society. While Walsh claims to be exercising his freedom of speech, his rhetoric – and the recent hack – has provoked strong reactions and led to renewed discussion about the limits of free speech and expression.
