Is threatening a nuclear apocalypse enough to get your wrist slapped under Twitter’s terms and conditions? Not if you’re Donald Trump.
Many observers have speculated what it would take to get the POTUS a suspension or a ban, amid increasingly outlandish and provocative posts that have outraged people around the world.
Recently Twitter said it allows certain posts that contravene its rules, due to public interest. On Friday it went further, explaining a brand new, shiny, Trump-enabling “World Leader” policy.
“Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial Tweets, would hide important information people should be able to see and debate,” the embattled social network wrote in a blog post.
“It would also not silence that leader, but it would certainly hamper necessary discussion around their words and actions.”
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018
The company says it judges leaders’ tweets on their individual merits and takes into consideration the “political context that defines them and enforce our rules accordingly.”
The firm added: “We are working to make Twitter the best place to see and freely discuss everything that matters. We believe that’s the best way to help our society make progress.”
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is currently under huge pressure to act on Trump. As recently as this week, a group of protesters projected messages onto Twitter’s San Francisco HQ.
“@Jack is complicit,” read one, while another read “Trump’s dogwhistle.” Finally, it urged Twitter to “Be a Hero: Ban Trump”
It seems that won’t be happening any time soon.
Protestors now standing outside of Twitter HQ pic.twitter.com/i9jqqzr7tE
— Alex Kantrowitz (@Kantrowitz) January 4, 2018
Do you think Twitter is doing enough to stop the spread of hatred on the platform? Let us know @TrustedReviews on… Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.