INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Twitter said it will restrict how users can interact with tweets from world leaders who break its rules.
Instead, Twitter said it will not
allow users to like, reply, share or retweet the offending tweets, but instead will let users to quote-tweet to allow ordinary users to
express their opinions.
The social media giant said that the move will help its users be informed about global affairs, but while taking
responsibility for keeping the site rules in check.
We haven''t used this notice yet, but when we do, you will not be able to like, reply,
share, or Retweet the Tweet in question
You will still be able to express your opinion with Retweet with Comment.
mdash; Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 15, 2019
Twitter
has been in a bind amid allegations that the company has not taken action against world leaders who break its rules.
When it comes to the
actions of world leaders on Twitter, we recognize that this is largely new ground and unprecedented,& Twitter said in an unbylined blog post
on Tuesday.
Last year, Twitter said it would not ban President Trump despite incendiary tweets, including allegations that he threatened to
declare war on North Korea
Other tweets from world leaders, such as Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, had their tweets hidden from the site In cases
when threats have been made against individuals.
We want to make it clear today that the accounts of world leaders are not above our
policies entirely,& the company said
Any user who tweets content promoting terrorism, making &clear and direct& threats of violence, and posting private information are all
subject to ban.
But Twitter said in cases involving a world leader, &we will err on the side of leaving the content up if there is a clear
public interest in doing so.
In such a case, &we may place it behind a notice that provides context about the violation and allows people to
click through should they wish to see the content,& said Twitter, making good on a promise it made in June.
Our goal is to enforce our rules
judiciously and impartially,& Twitter added in a tweet
&In doing so, we aim to provide direct insight into our enforcement decision-making, to serve public conversation, and protect the public
right to hear from their leaders and to hold them to account.
Twitter asserts that it won''t ban Trump because he a world leader
