Mar 01, 2023 14:00:00

Twitter Revises Violent Content Policy Under Elon Musk

After

Elon Musk bought Twitter , he reinstated many accounts that had been suspended for violating past Twitter rules. As a result, it has been pointed out that the number of hate speeches on Twitter has increased to unprecedented levels . To properly handle situations like this, Twitter has announced several changes to its violent content policy.

Twitter's Violent Speech Policy | Twitter Help
https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/violent-speech

Twitter updates violent speech policy to ban 'wishes of harm' | Engadget
https://www.engadget.com/twitter-updates-violent-speech-policy-to-ban-wishes-of-harm-214320985.html

Twitter's new Violent Speech Policy looks a lot like the old one - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2023/2/28/23619262/twitter-violent-speech-policy-zero-tolerance

Twitter Safety, which sets rules and publishes tools related to Twitter's safety and security, said, ``We have made several changes to our policy regarding violent content and similar expressions. We are officially launching our 'Violent Speech Policy' to ban acts that attempt to inflict, glorify violence, and incite violence,' he tweeted, announcing the start of the violent speech policy.

We've made a few changes to our policies around violent content and similar language. Today, we've officially launched our Violent Speech policy, which prohibits violent threats, wishes of harm, glorification of violence, and incitement of violence.??? ?

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) February 28, 2023

The Violent Speech Policy states that 'Do not threaten, incite, glorify, or express a desire for violence or harm.' Specifically, the violent speech policy prohibits the following four actions:

・Violent threats
Never threaten to physically harm another person. This includes, but is not limited to, threatening to 'kill,' 'torture,' 'sexually assault,' or 'harm in any other way.' Violent threats also include threatening to 'damage civilian homes or shelters, or infrastructure essential to daily, civic, or business activities.'

・Wish of harm
Nor can it wish, hope, or express a desire for harm. This includes expecting others to die, suffer an illness, experience a tragic event, or have other physically harmful consequences. This is not limited to the above examples either.

・Incitement to violence
Inciting violence includes, but is not limited to, inciting others to commit acts of atrocities, including crimes against humanity, war crimes and slaughter. is not. Incitement to violence also includes 'indirect incitement to violence through euphemisms or metaphors.'

・Glorification of violence
Nor can we glorify or celebrate acts of violence where harm occurs. This includes, but is not limited to, acknowledging that someone has experienced physical harm, or praising violent entities or perpetrators of violent attacks. Glamorizing animal cruelty or cruelty is also prohibited.

Content that is not included in the Violent Speech Policy includes 'where there is no clear abusive or violent context' and 'expressions of violent speech.' Specific examples include 'pretentious and consensual remarks between friends' and 'violent remarks made during a discussion of a game or sporting event'. Also, it seems that there are cases where it is judged as metaphor, satire, or artistic expression when the context expresses a point of view rather than inciting violence or harm that leads to actual action.

In addition, since Twitter adopts a zero tolerance method for violent remarks, it explains that in most cases the account will be suspended if the policy is violated. For less severe violations, the account may be reactivated, but the offending content must be removed first.

Twitter has a zero-tolerance approach towards Violent Speech, and in most cases, we will suspend any account violating this policy. For less severe violations, we may require you to delete the content before you can access your account again.

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) February 28, 2023

Regarding Twitter's new violent speech policy, foreign media The Verge points out that ``although it is very similar to the previous policy , it has become more specific and ambiguous.'' Both the old and new policies prohibit statements that threaten others with violence or glorify violence, but the new policy 'expands some concepts while removing references to others.' ' points out The Verge.

The Verge said, ``What feels like a meaningful change is the lack of clarity about who the new policy is designed to protect. ', but the new policy does not include the words 'individual' or 'group' and instead refers to 'other', which protects marginalized groups. It can be interpreted that there is, but there is nothing concrete that can actually prove it, ”he said, questioning the new policy.