MISINFORMATION ABOUT THE UKRAINE CONFLICT WILL BE LABELED ON TWITTER

Fri 20 May 2022:

On Thursday (May 20), Twitter announced that it will begin putting warning messages on some false information about the Ukraine crisis, as well as limiting the spread of claims disproved by humanitarian organizations and other reliable sources.

Twitter’s action is part of a new policy outlining how the social media giant will handle misinformation during times of crisis.

The way social media networks determine and manage misinformation has come under increased scrutiny. Twitter has decided to sell itself to Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has stated that the service should be a free speech platform.

With its new step, Twitter will flash warning notices alerting users if a tweet violates the platform’s rules. However, it will still allow users to view the tweet and comment on it. The platform will not amplify or recommend such tweets and retweeting will also be disabled.

The approach could be “a more effective way to intervene to prevent harm, while still preserving and protecting speech on Twitter,” said Yoel Roth, head of safety and integrity at Twitter, during a call with reporters.

Twitter is going to prioritise adding such labels to tweets from high-profile accounts if they are found to be misleading. Such high-profile accounts include verified users or official government profiles. It will also prioritise content that could cause harm to people on the ground.

Twitter defines crises as circumstances in which people’s lives, physical safety, health, or fundamental survival are at risk. The policy will initially focus on international military conflicts, but it will also apply to catastrophes such as mass shootings and natural disasters, according to the statement.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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