Social media platform, Twitter has cautioned political figures against spreading false and misleading statements.
The Details: Twitter directed the warning specifically to world leaders, stressing that they are not above its rules. It warned that it could remove or demote their accounts, alongside other users who continually flout its rules. This was contained in a statement released by the online platform yesterday.
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Recall that Twitter suspended 10,000 accounts globally last month. The accounts were said to have been suspended for sharing disinformation and causing political unrest.
“We want to make it clear today that the accounts of world leaders are not above our policies entirely,” the company said in a blog post.
Further Details: Twitter also promised to sanction any account known for the promotion of terrorism, clear and direct threats of violence as well as the inclusion of private information, such as a home address or phone number.
It vowed to deal with any user that posted intimate photos or videos of someone without consent, and any post related to child sexual exploitation or promoting self-harm.
It also added that any tweet from a world leader that violates Twitter’s rule may only be seen if it is in public interest. This will, however, require users to click on a notice acknowledging they want to see the message. It assured users that right to political speech is guaranteed.
“Our goal is to enforce our rules judiciously and impartially,” it said.
“With critical elections and shifting political dynamics around the world, we recognize that we’re operating in an increasingly complex and polarized political culture. These are constantly evolving challenges and we’ll keep our policies and approach under advisement,” the social media platform added.
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What you should know: This action by Twitter is part of its campaign against disinformation that has been on for a while.
