Twitter has been in the news for various reasons of late. The microblogging site was recently bought by billionaire Elon Musk, who reportedly fired over 50 per cent of employees following the takeover. The company also released a new Twitter Blue update, which provides users with a blue checkmark and many new features by paying $8 per month. Twitter is going through many changes as CEO Musk works on making the company more profitable.
Musk, who also likes to call himself the Twitter Complaint Hotline Operator, has announced new rules for the safety and security of users on the platform. These new rules revolve around safety, privacy, advertising, etc.
New Twitter Rules
CEO Elon Musk has announced new Twitter rules that will be applicable to all users on the platform. These rules will evolve over time, Musk added. The company stated that its new rules are to ensure all people can participate in public conversation freely and safely.
Safety
The new Twitter rules reiterate that there is no place for violence of any kind on the platform – be it threatening an individual or group of people, or promoting or encouraging suicide or self-harm. The platform also does not promote harassment on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.
Users are also not permitted to threaten or promote terrorism or violent extremism. Twitter will remove any accounts maintained by individual perpetrators of terrorist, violent extremist, or mass violent attacks, and may also remove tweets disseminating manifestos or other content produced by perpetrators.
In addition to this, users are advised to not engage in targeted harassment of someone, or incite other people to do so.
Users cannot post media related to adult content within a live video or in a profile. Media depicting sexual violence and/or assault is also not permitted.
Privacy
Twitter’s new rules advise users to not publish or post other people’s private information, such as home phone number and address without their permission or authorisation. Users can also not post or share intimate photos or videos of someone that were produced or distributed without their consent.
Authenticity
Twitter, as a platform, cannot be used to artificially amplify or suppress information or engage in behaviour that manipulates or disrupts people’s experience. Impersonating individuals, groups, or organisations to mislead, confuse, or deceive others or using a fake identity is also not allowed. Musk tweeted that Twitter handles engaging in impersonation without clearly specifying parody will be permanently suspended.
Users are also advised to not share manipulated media that is likely to cause harm. Twitter has the right to add a label to tweets containing synthetic and manipulated media to help people understand their authenticity and to provide additional context.
Users can also not violate any intellectual property rights owned by someone else, including copyright and trademark.
Enforcement and Appeals
Twitter will comply with enforcement actions if need be. In some instances, it could be at a tweet level to ensure that the company is not being overly harsh with an otherwise healthy account that made a mistake and violated the rules. The company can also stop an account from sending messages to the person who reported them if the account is found violating any of the stated rules. Users found violating Twitter rules multiple times will have their accounts suspended.
Third-party Advertising in Video Content
Twitter’s new rules state that users cannot submit, post, or display any video content on or through its services that includes third-party advertising. These include pre-roll video ads or sponsorship graphics.
What’s your take on the new Twitter rules? Let us know in the comments below.
