Twitter seems to be slowly acknowledging its role in the spread of hateful and violent content by taking a few steps to kick some of the worst offenders off the platform. Twitter Safety announced new rules and enforcement that took effect today. In a blog post, they explain accounts that are affiliated with hateful organizations and movements like white nationalism are no longer allowed.
Accounts that affiliate with organizations that use or promote violence against civilians to further their causes. Groups included in this policy will be those that identify as such or engage in activity — both on and off the platform — that promotes violence. This policy does not apply to military or government entities and we will consider exceptions for groups that are currently engaging in (or have engaged in) peaceful resolution.
Newsweek reports that as of this morning, a slew of white nationalists both in the U.S. and Europe have been banned. The banning included the leadership of Britain First, who Trump infamously retweeted and are facing criminal charges for hate speech in the UK.
Jayda Fransen, the leader of Britain First, the far-right political organization that produced the controversial videos, joined Jared Taylor, editor of American Renaissance, a white supremacist publication, in discovering that their ability to use the social media network had been taken away. American Renaissance’s account, which was verified by Twitter prior to the “purge,” was also suspended from the site.
Traditionalist Worker’s Party, a neo-Nazi group; and Occidental Dissent, a white nationalist publication, were also removed from Twitter. Those groups were instrumental in organizing the so-called White Lives Matter rally that took place in Tennessee this October.
Unfortunately, Trump still has his account.