On July 9, Twitter announced new updates to their policies that will address hateful languages or tweets directed at religious groups. Moreover, this is a great change in how the website moderates against hate speech.
Their new policy has already begun and the users will have to follow the new rules. If everything goes according to the plan, Twitter could use the same standard for other protected groups or individuals in the future.
Today we’re announcing an expansion to this policy which will address dehumanizing language towards religious groups. This is just the first step. Over time we'll expand the policy to include more groups and update you along the way. Learn more: https://t.co/yAZruwobJT
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) July 9, 2019
Alex Jones banned from using Twitter
Last August, Alex Jones who is a popular conspiracy theorist and American radio show host was banned from the Twitter platform. Sources revealed that Jones had broken the company’s rules for more than 7 times.
However, CEO Jack Dorsey still waited to take the final decision at the meeting. Later on, Dorsey had ordered his subordinates to form a new policy for outlawing “dehumanizing speech” on Twitter. The company spent almost one year to comprehend what that really meant.
Last year we asked for your thoughts on how we could expand our hateful conduct policy to include dehumanizing language. We heard that we needed to be clearer, narrow down our focus, and explain how we enforce.
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) July 9, 2019
New Twitter Policy
Today, the company had finally revealed their final product. Twitter has added a new rule which will ban hateful speech for dehumanizing people on the basis of their religion. Besides, users are no longer allowed to call people vermin, maggots or viruses.
However, any current tweet that doesn’t follow the rule should be deleted before the user’s account gets reported. If anyone is found tweeting dehumanizing anti-religious sentiment, then their accounts will get banned or suspended.
#twitterrules Twitter’s new rules regarding religion. Can I say I don’t like Islam or Scientology? I think both religions have questionable values. I also don’t like some other religions but these are in my top two of religions I would not follow.
— Elsie (@SlinkiiMinkii) July 9, 2019
From now onwards, Twitter will no longer tolerate dehumanizing speech. Kate Conger also stated that religion is the easiest place to begin the policy. Moreover, it has also banned users from using hateful imagery which includes Swastikas.
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