The social media giant took on white supremacists and neo-nazis by cracking down on their policy against racist users. Twitter announced on Friday that they would closely monitor the activities of users "on and off" the platform and suspend accounts of those who associate with violent hate groups.
However, the policy enforcement won't be effective immediately. Users were given a December 18 deadline, due to regulations in the European Union that require a 30-day advance notification for companies to enforce new policies.
An update to the Twitter help center reads:
You also may not affiliate with organizations that — whether by their own statements or activity both on and off the platform — use or promote violence against civilians to further their causes.
We’ve updated our rules around abuse and hateful conduct as well as violence and physical harm. These changes will… https://t.co/TwBW28uafq— Twitter Safety (@Twitter Safety)1510934405.0
Twitter announced on Wednesday that they were about to conduct a verified account sweep, and said they would remove verification from those who don't adhere to the social media platform's updated policies.
Twitter support posted a series of tweets outlining their bold objective:
Verification has long been perceived as an endorsement. Verification was meant to authenticate identity & voice but it is interpreted as an endorsement or an indicator of importance. We recognize that we have created this confusion and need to resolve it. This perception became worse when we opened up verification for public submissions and verified people who we in no way endorse.
The recent policy updates came after Twitter received a considerable amount of pushback for awarding the blue verification badge to Jason Kessler, the organizer of the white supremacy rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
White nationalist figures Richard Spencer and Tommy Robinson had their blue check marks revoked; as well as conservative activist Laura Loomer, who was banned from ride-share services Uber and Lyft, for her vitriolic and anti-Muslim tweets in the wake of the pickup truck that killed eight people in the New York City attack.
Twitter just emailed me to tell me they are removing my "verified badge" because they claim my account "doesn't com… https://t.co/KbpQoL9wea— Laura Loomer (@Laura Loomer)1510786187.0
A Twitter spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement, "The updates to the rules today will be enforced starting December 18. We'll also have more details on these policies to share that day.
The strict policy will fix the loophole often attacked by critics, that white supremacists and members of hate groups still could rally their followers to promote their agenda of hate through less aggressive tweets.
Some are concerned about the company's monitoring conservative speech.
@mashable Despite the obvious attempt at curbing supremacists, this is wrongheaded & sends such folks into hiding—m… https://t.co/8gaOiwdXIs— sarahg (@sarahg)1510938213.0
@mashable Wondering if I should touch this one with a 20ft pole. https://t.co/G2l15E4qUL— JoMo Senpai 😤🙏 (@JoMo Senpai 😤🙏)1510937594.0
@mashable Awful precedent. Twitter now determines who can/can’t use their site based on perceived issues OFFLINE?… https://t.co/RwIAR4YBFS— Max Renn (@Max Renn)1510939780.0
@Daemoniac2 @getongab @mashable People need to aggressively resist and reject any form of technology that attempts… https://t.co/byex6qucGY— Bibliófilo (@Bibliófilo)1510950149.0
@Timcast Why ban them? Allow their true colors to shine! Let others see their ugliness.— MOW (@MOW)1510949829.0
One user was opposed to Twitter's updated policy change, but not for what you'd expect.
@Timcast Why ban them? Allow their true colors to shine! Let others see their ugliness.— MOW (@MOW)1510949829.0
Many people outwardly declared a ban on all Nazis.
@Recode Ban the nazis, why is Richard Spencer still active AND verified? Twitter identifies&hides that content in o… https://t.co/S8t7KvSupi— Possed out 🇲🇽 (@Possed out 🇲🇽)1509122741.0
@Recode Kick. Nazis. The fuck. Out.— Jordan Saïd is perpetually tired of this shit. (@Jordan Saïd is perpetually tired of this shit.)1509140204.0
@Recode No more nazis.— Adrian Randall 🎆 (@Adrian Randall 🎆)1509122302.0
@Recode Ban harassers instead of their victims. Get rid of all the Nazis. Stop the "president" from inciting nuclear war on platform.— Selkie with Amnesia BAN THE NAZIS (@Selkie with Amnesia BAN THE NAZIS)1509078320.0
When a ban is simply not enough, there is this option:
@Recode get rid of nazis or implement a way to punch them through the internet.— Kieran (@Kieran)1509075323.0
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H/T - mashable, independent, businessinsider, twitter