Example information excerpts for Will Twitter implement a new misinformation policy before the 2024 elections?
. YouTube Official Blog, "Supporting the 2020 U.S. election," December 9, 2020. The New York Times, "Youtube’s stronger misinformation policies had a spillover effect on Twitter and Facebook, researchers say," October 14, 2021. Twitter, "Civic integrity misleading information policy," accessed June 7, 2023. Associated Press, "False claims of a stolen election thrive unchecked on Twitter even as Musk promises otherwise," May 18, 2023. Meta, "Preparing for elections," accessed June 7, 2023. Meta, "Misinformation", accessed June 7, 2023. TikTok, "Election Integrity," accessed June 7, 2023. TikTok, "TikTok’s H2 2020 Transparency Report," February 24, 2021. NBC, "Days before the midterms, Twitter lays off employees who fight misinformation," November 4, 2022
. By: Sevana Wenn July 7, 2023 As the 2024 presidential election comes into focus, tech giants have struggled to balance curtailing misinformation with protecting users’ political speech. A recent YouTube policy change, which affects how the platform handles election-related misinformation, is an example of this tension. In June 2023, the video-sharing platform officially changed its election misinformation policy and announced that videos promoting election falsehoods will no longer be removed. The move has concerned digital misinformation experts, who warn that misinformation that originates on YouTube could infiltrate the broader information ecosystem, especially in 2024
. Weekly Email Newsletter Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up How Meta, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube plan to address 2024 election misinformation Elections Technology The Facebook logo is seen on a mobile phone, Oct. 14, 2022, in Boston. (AP) By Sevana Wenn July 6, 2023 If Your Time is short YouTube said June 2 it will no longer remove videos that include false information about the 2020 presidential election. Some advocates warn that the policy change could have ripple effects across social media platforms and allow misinformation to spread more easily
. As the 2024 presidential election comes into focus, tech giants have struggled to balance curtailing misinformation with protecting users’ political speech. A recent YouTube policy change, which affects how the platform handles election-related misinformation, is an example of this tension. In June 2023, the video-sharing platform officially changed its election misinformation policy and announced that videos promoting election falsehoods will no longer be removed. The move has concerned digital misinformation experts, who warn that misinformation that originates on YouTube could infiltrate the broader information ecosystem, especially in 2024
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. TikTok, "TikTok’s H2 2020 Transparency Report," February 24, 2021. NBC, "Days before the midterms, Twitter lays off employees who fight misinformation," November 4, 2022. Bloomberg, "Twitter cuts more staff overseeing content moderation," January 7, 2023. Meta, "Our approach to newsworthy content," August 25, 2022. Email interview with Ivy Choi, policy communications manager at YouTube, June 14, 2023. Email interview with TikTok spokesperson, June 14, 2023. Email interview with Nora Benavidez, senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights at Free Press, June 14, 2023. Email interview with Kate Starbird, associate professor at the University of Washington, June 14, 2023
. The move has concerned digital misinformation experts, who warn that misinformation that originates on YouTube could infiltrate the broader information ecosystem, especially in 2024. PolitiFact examined the state of election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. We found that although most policies haven’t changed since the 2022 midterm elections, enforcement has been inconsistent, and platforms including Twitter and Meta have reduced content moderation staff. Experts also suggest that these personnel cuts, coupled with YouTube’s policy change, signal a broader shift away from misinformation regulation ahead of the 2024 election
. A short statement announcing the change was added to an official Twitter page that explained the company’s efforts to provide factual information about COVID-19. “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy,” the statement said. The statement did not provide additional details on exact enforcement measures that would change. During the pandemic, Twitter established several measures aimed at helping users learn more about COVID-19. It also launched efforts to prevent misleading information from appearing on the service. The efforts included banning some users who repeatedly published material on COVID-19 identified as misinformation. Other social media services established similar measures
. A short statement announcing the change was added to an official Twitter page that explained the company’s efforts to provide factual information about COVID-19. “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy,” the statement said. The statement did not provide additional details on exact enforcement measures that would change. During the pandemic, Twitter established several measures aimed at helping users learn more about COVID-19. It also launched efforts to prevent misleading information from appearing on the service. The efforts included banning some users who repeatedly published material on COVID-19 identified as misinformation. Other social media services established similar measures
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. Vivek Murthy cited Twitter’s rules as an example of what companies should do to combat misinformation. Twitter did not appear to formally announce the rule change. Instead, some Twitter users Monday night spotted a note added to the page on Twitter’s website that outlines its Covid policy. “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy,” the note read. Musk has promised to restore many previously banned Twitter accounts as soon as this week. It is possible that among the restored accounts will be some of the 11,000 banned under Twitter’s former Covid misinformation rules. The Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX CEO tested the limits of Twitter’s previous policy in the early days of the pandemic
. Going forward, we will take less severe actions, such as limiting the reach of policy-violating Tweets or asking you to remove Tweets before you can continue using your account.” This is in line with Musk’s previously stated ‘freedom of speech, not freedom of reach’ approach, which will see Twitter leaning more towards leaving content active in the app, but reducing its impact algorithmically, if it breaks any rules. New Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.Negative/hate tweets will be max deboosted & demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter
. As Twitter shared in blog post on November 30th: “None of our policies have changed. Our approach to policy enforcement will rely more heavily on de-amplification of violative content: freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.” Again, Twitter has not changed any of its policies as yet, and while Musk keeps talking about allowing more speech, and pointing the finger at past management for their perceived bias, Twitter’s rules around content, and what is and is not allowed in the app, are exactly the same. Some have suggested that Musk has taken stronger action against child sexual abuse material, though experts say that those changed haven’t had much impact, while Twitter has also stopped enforcing its COVID misinformation policy, an area where Musk has strong opinions
. And as we’ve already seen, he will make drastic rules changes based on personal agendas and experience. Twitter says that, starting February 1st, any previously suspended users will be able to appeal their suspension, and be evaluated under its new criteria for reinstatement. It’s also targeting February for a launch of its new account penalties notifications. post share tweet print email Filed Under: Social Media Updates, X (Twitter) Social Media Today news delivered to your inbox Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts Email: Select user consent: By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at anytime
. 21: Twitter reinstates the personal account of far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, which was banned in January for violating the platform’s COVID-19 misinformation policies. Nov. 25: Twitter announces plans to revamp its premium service with different colored check marks, including gold for companies, gray for government accounts, and blue for anyone who will pay for it. Nov. 28: Twitter ceases enforcement of its policy against COVID-19 misinformation on the platform.Nov. 30: A top European Union official warns Musk that Twitter needs to beef up measures to protect users from hate speech, misinformation and other harmful content to avoid fines or even a ban in the 27-nation bloc.Dec
. All of these profiles still have to play by the platform rules, but some of the app’s biggest offenders of times past are now back and tweeting again. And about those rules… 3. Updating Twitter’s Rules and Regulations Here’s the thing – for all of Musk’s talk of updating Twitter’s approach, and making the platform more open to more kinds of speech, Twitter itself has repeatedly told ad partners that its policies have not changed. As Twitter shared in blog post on November 30th: “None of our policies have changed
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. Going forward, we will take less severe actions, such as limiting the reach of policy-violating Tweets or asking you to remove Tweets before you can continue using your account.” This is in line with Musk’s previously stated ‘freedom of speech, not freedom of reach’ approach, which will see Twitter leaning more towards leaving content active in the app, but reducing its impact algorithmically, if it breaks any rules. New Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.Negative/hate tweets will be max deboosted & demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter
. A short statement announcing the change was added to an official Twitter page that explained the company’s efforts to provide factual information about COVID-19. “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy,” the statement said. The statement did not provide additional details on exact enforcement measures that would change. During the pandemic, Twitter established several measures aimed at helping users learn more about COVID-19. It also launched efforts to prevent misleading information from appearing on the service. The efforts included banning some users who repeatedly published material on COVID-19 identified as misinformation. Other social media services established similar measures
. All of these profiles still have to play by the platform rules, but some of the app’s biggest offenders of times past are now back and tweeting again. And about those rules… 3. Updating Twitter’s Rules and Regulations Here’s the thing – for all of Musk’s talk of updating Twitter’s approach, and making the platform more open to more kinds of speech, Twitter itself has repeatedly told ad partners that its policies have not changed. As Twitter shared in blog post on November 30th: “None of our policies have changed
. As Twitter shared in blog post on November 30th: “None of our policies have changed. Our approach to policy enforcement will rely more heavily on de-amplification of violative content: freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.” Again, Twitter has not changed any of its policies as yet, and while Musk keeps talking about allowing more speech, and pointing the finger at past management for their perceived bias, Twitter’s rules around content, and what is and is not allowed in the app, are exactly the same. Some have suggested that Musk has taken stronger action against child sexual abuse material, though experts say that those changed haven’t had much impact, while Twitter has also stopped enforcing its COVID misinformation policy, an area where Musk has strong opinions
. 21: Twitter reinstates the personal account of far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, which was banned in January for violating the platform’s COVID-19 misinformation policies. Nov. 25: Twitter announces plans to revamp its premium service with different colored check marks, including gold for companies, gray for government accounts, and blue for anyone who will pay for it. Nov. 28: Twitter ceases enforcement of its policy against COVID-19 misinformation on the platform.Nov. 30: A top European Union official warns Musk that Twitter needs to beef up measures to protect users from hate speech, misinformation and other harmful content to avoid fines or even a ban in the 27-nation bloc.Dec
. New Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.Negative/hate tweets will be max deboosted & demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter. You won’t find the tweet unless you specifically seek it out, which is no different from rest of Internet.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2022 Which means a lot of tweets that would have previously been deemed violative will now remain in the app, and while Musk notes that no ads will be displayed against such content, that could be difficult to enforce, given the way the tweet timeline functions. But it does align with Musk’s free speech approach, and reduces the onus on Twitter, to some degree, in moderating speech
. And as we’ve already seen, he will make drastic rules changes based on personal agendas and experience. Twitter says that, starting February 1st, any previously suspended users will be able to appeal their suspension, and be evaluated under its new criteria for reinstatement. It’s also targeting February for a launch of its new account penalties notifications. post share tweet print email Filed Under: Social Media Updates, X (Twitter) Social Media Today news delivered to your inbox Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts Email: Select user consent: By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at anytime
. Despite this, some political leaders have chosen to embrace election denial, promote violence, and remain uncooperative to upholding their responsibility to democracy. While resources such as Integrity Institute’s “Election integrity best practices”10 offer a general guide for how platforms can responsibly support elections online, this is a broad and wide-reaching societal issue that requires governmental and private sector cooperation to address
. In combination with effective local laws, regulations, election infrastructure protections, and increased digital literacy, these recommendations underscore the importance of the role of the private sector in maintaining free and fair elections as so much of our democracy moves online. Twitter To ensure billions of people across the globe can engage in the democratic process without interference or undue risk in 2024, social media companies and GAI developers must do their part. The rise of political actors who undermine and refuse to accept the outcomes of elections has contributed to the degradation of trust in elections across the world
. The report’s recommendations incorporate learnings from past elections and introduce new ideas to encourage technology platforms to safeguard democratic processes and mitigate election threats. In a world without standardized global social media regulation, ensuring elections are safe, accessible, and protected online and offline will require key actions to be taken ahead of any votes being cast—both in 2024 and beyond
. elections. The report, titled “24 for ’24,” was published today under the auspices of UCLA School of Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project. It is aimed at ensuring access to the ballot for all eligible voters, protecting election integrity and enhancing the public’s confidence in the fairness of the election and the accuracy of the results. In it, the authors call for specific action from journalists, social media companies, government bodies, election officials, congressional and state leaders, and the general public. The authors’ guidance is divided into four broad categories: legal, media and social media, politics and norms, and technology. Chief among the recommendations is that states strengthen laws to protect election officials from violence, threats of violence and intimidation
. Online platforms should invest heavily in updated and expanded localized election-related transparency efforts to maintain user trust and promote accurate information, including by taking the following steps: Enhance existing transparency reporting: Platforms should increase frequency of transparency reports31 publication before, during, and after key elections, with additional data points on election risks/content, including dedicated reports on elections-related mitigation and content takedowns. Inclusions may incorporate political advertisements by volume and engagement, high-risk civic escalations, etc
. Twitter In a world without standardized global social media regulation, ensuring elections are safe, accessible, and protected online and offline will require key actions to be taken ahead of any votes being cast. This new report specifically anticipates risks to and from the major social media platforms in the 2024 elections, continuing CAP’s work to promote election integrity online and ensure free and fair elections globally. The report’s recommendations incorporate learnings from past elections and introduce new ideas to encourage technology platforms to safeguard democratic processes and mitigate election threats
. elections. The recommendations are aimed at government officials, journalists, social media companies and the general public. The report was published under the auspices of UCLA School of Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project. Voters in Indiana during the 2020 election. Photo credit: Sipa USA/Associated PressTwo dozen of the nation’s leading experts on law, elections and information security — representing universities, nonprofits and the private sector — have issued 24 recommendations for safeguarding the integrity of the 2024 U.S. elections. The report, titled “24 for ’24,” was published today under the auspices of UCLA School of Law’s Safeguarding Democracy Project
. (Getty/Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto) Introduction and summary In 2024, more than 2 billion voters across 50 countries—including in the United States, the European Union, and India—will head to the polls in a record-breaking number of elections around the world.1 Nearly a decade after social media was weaponized to influence election outcomes and with the technological advancements of today, such as generative artificial intelligence, poised to worsen or cause new problems, it is more prudent than ever that technology platforms and governments do everything in their power to safeguard elections and uphold democratic values online
. Going forward, we will take less severe actions, such as limiting the reach of policy-violating Tweets or asking you to remove Tweets before you can continue using your account.” This is in line with Musk’s previously stated ‘freedom of speech, not freedom of reach’ approach, which will see Twitter leaning more towards leaving content active in the app, but reducing its impact algorithmically, if it breaks any rules. New Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.Negative/hate tweets will be max deboosted & demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. And as we’ve already seen, he will make drastic rules changes based on personal agendas and experience. Twitter says that, starting February 1st, any previously suspended users will be able to appeal their suspension, and be evaluated under its new criteria for reinstatement. It’s also targeting February for a launch of its new account penalties notifications. post share tweet print email Filed Under: Social Media Updates, X (Twitter) Social Media Today news delivered to your inbox Get the free daily newsletter read by industry experts Email: Select user consent: By signing up to receive our newsletter, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe at anytime
. New Twitter policy is freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.Negative/hate tweets will be max deboosted & demonetized, so no ads or other revenue to Twitter. You won’t find the tweet unless you specifically seek it out, which is no different from rest of Internet.— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 18, 2022 Which means a lot of tweets that would have previously been deemed violative will now remain in the app, and while Musk notes that no ads will be displayed against such content, that could be difficult to enforce, given the way the tweet timeline functions. But it does align with Musk’s free speech approach, and reduces the onus on Twitter, to some degree, in moderating speech
. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesTwitter’s owner, Elon Musk, has overseen some sudden and drastic changes to the social media site
. A short statement announcing the change was added to an official Twitter page that explained the company’s efforts to provide factual information about COVID-19. “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy,” the statement said. The statement did not provide additional details on exact enforcement measures that would change. During the pandemic, Twitter established several measures aimed at helping users learn more about COVID-19. It also launched efforts to prevent misleading information from appearing on the service. The efforts included banning some users who repeatedly published material on COVID-19 identified as misinformation. Other social media services established similar measures
. As Twitter shared in blog post on November 30th: “None of our policies have changed. Our approach to policy enforcement will rely more heavily on de-amplification of violative content: freedom of speech, but not freedom of reach.” Again, Twitter has not changed any of its policies as yet, and while Musk keeps talking about allowing more speech, and pointing the finger at past management for their perceived bias, Twitter’s rules around content, and what is and is not allowed in the app, are exactly the same. Some have suggested that Musk has taken stronger action against child sexual abuse material, though experts say that those changed haven’t had much impact, while Twitter has also stopped enforcing its COVID misinformation policy, an area where Musk has strong opinions
. All of these profiles still have to play by the platform rules, but some of the app’s biggest offenders of times past are now back and tweeting again. And about those rules… 3. Updating Twitter’s Rules and Regulations Here’s the thing – for all of Musk’s talk of updating Twitter’s approach, and making the platform more open to more kinds of speech, Twitter itself has repeatedly told ad partners that its policies have not changed. As Twitter shared in blog post on November 30th: “None of our policies have changed
. YouTube Official Blog, "Supporting the 2020 U.S. election," December 9, 2020. The New York Times, "Youtube’s stronger misinformation policies had a spillover effect on Twitter and Facebook, researchers say," October 14, 2021. Twitter, "Civic integrity misleading information policy," accessed June 7, 2023. Associated Press, "False claims of a stolen election thrive unchecked on Twitter even as Musk promises otherwise," May 18, 2023. Meta, "Preparing for elections," accessed June 7, 2023. Meta, "Misinformation", accessed June 7, 2023. TikTok, "Election Integrity," accessed June 7, 2023. TikTok, "TikTok’s H2 2020 Transparency Report," February 24, 2021. NBC, "Days before the midterms, Twitter lays off employees who fight misinformation," November 4, 2022. Bloomberg, "Twitter cuts more staff overseeing content moderation," January 7, 2023
. By: Sevana Wenn July 7, 2023 As the 2024 presidential election comes into focus, tech giants have struggled to balance curtailing misinformation with protecting users’ political speech. A recent YouTube policy change, which affects how the platform handles election-related misinformation, is an example of this tension. In June 2023, the video-sharing platform officially changed its election misinformation policy and announced that videos promoting election falsehoods will no longer be removed. The move has concerned digital misinformation experts, who warn that misinformation that originates on YouTube could infiltrate the broader information ecosystem, especially in 2024
. As the 2024 presidential election comes into focus, tech giants have struggled to balance curtailing misinformation with protecting users’ political speech. A recent YouTube policy change, which affects how the platform handles election-related misinformation, is an example of this tension. In June 2023, the video-sharing platform officially changed its election misinformation policy and announced that videos promoting election falsehoods will no longer be removed. The move has concerned digital misinformation experts, who warn that misinformation that originates on YouTube could infiltrate the broader information ecosystem, especially in 2024. PolitiFact examined the state of election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options. The news release said little about how YouTube will approach 2024 election misinformation, but that adjustments to its strategy would be made as needed. YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi told PolitiFact, “We’ll have more details to share about our approach towards the 2024 election in the months to come.” Twitter’s handling of misinformation Twitter’s approach to misinformation has also shifted after its 2022 takeover by Elon Musk, who calls himself a free-speech advocate but has sometimes flip-flopped on some free speech-related decisions. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation
. Some advocates warn that the policy change could have ripple effects across social media platforms and allow misinformation to spread more easily. PolitiFact examined election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta. We found that although most policies haven’t changed since the 2022 midterm elections, enforcement has been inconsistent and layoffs have hindered fact-checking operations. Experts suggest that YouTube’s policy change, coupled with layoffs at other companies, signals a broader shift away from misinformation regulation ahead of the 2024 election cycle. As the 2024 presidential election comes into focus, tech giants have struggled to balance curtailing misinformation with protecting users’ political speech
. Weekly Email Newsletter Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up How Meta, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube plan to address 2024 election misinformation Elections Technology The Facebook logo is seen on a mobile phone, Oct. 14, 2022, in Boston. (AP) By Sevana Wenn July 6, 2023 If Your Time is short YouTube said June 2 it will no longer remove videos that include false information about the 2020 presidential election. Some advocates warn that the policy change could have ripple effects across social media platforms and allow misinformation to spread more easily. PolitiFact examined election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta
. The move has concerned digital misinformation experts, who warn that misinformation that originates on YouTube could infiltrate the broader information ecosystem, especially in 2024. PolitiFact examined the state of election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. We found that although most policies haven’t changed since the 2022 midterm elections, enforcement has been inconsistent, and platforms including Twitter and Meta have reduced content moderation staff. Experts also suggest that these personnel cuts, coupled with YouTube’s policy change, signal a broader shift away from misinformation regulation ahead of the 2024 election
. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options. The news release said little about how YouTube will approach 2024 election misinformation, but that adjustments to its strategy would be made as needed. YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi told PolitiFact, "We'll have more details to share about our approach towards the 2024 election in the months to come." Twitter’s handling of misinformation Twitter’s approach to misinformation has also shifted after its 2022 takeover by Elon Musk, who calls himself a free-speech advocate but has sometimes flip-flopped on some free speech-related decisions. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation
. Posts that are labeled as misinformation are made less visible in users’ feeds. Meta’s third-party fact-checking program does not apply to active politicians, including Trump. Like Twitter, Meta has significantly cut its staff in recent months. CNBC reported in May that Meta laid off about 200 content moderators in early January 2023. Meta also laid off at least 16 members of Instagram’s well-being group and more than 100 positions related to trust, integrity and responsibility, according to CNBC. Asked whether Meta will implement any new safeguards or make changes to existing regulations before the 2024 election, a spokesperson said, “We continue to enforce our misinformation policies.” Looking ahead to 2024 Advocates warn that YouTube’s policy change might contribute to election misinformation spreading unchecked
. Posts that are labeled as misinformation are made less visible in users’ feeds. Meta’s third-party fact-checking program does not apply to active politicians, including Trump. Like Twitter, Meta has significantly cut its staff in recent months. CNBC reported in May that Meta laid off about 200 content moderators in early January 2023. Meta also laid off at least 16 members of Instagram’s well-being group and more than 100 positions related to trust, integrity and responsibility, according to CNBC. Asked whether Meta will implement any new safeguards or make changes to existing regulations before the 2024 election, a spokesperson said, "We continue to enforce our misinformation policies." Looking ahead to 2024 Advocates warn that YouTube’s policy change might contribute to election misinformation spreading unchecked
. By Sevana Wenn • June 6, 2023 How Meta, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube plan to address 2024 election misinformation Nick LaLota stated on November 18, 2023 in a social media post: Under New York’s Clean Slate Act “violent crimes … will now be automatically sealed after a set time - like they never happened.” By Jill Terreri Ramos • January 1, 2024 Americans for Prosperity stated on December 4, 2023 in X, formerly Twitter: “Wisconsin utilities have charged ratepayers more than $1.9 billion of increases since 2019.” By Laura Schulte • December 29, 2023 Robin Vos stated on September 15, 2023 in News release:
. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options. The news release said little about how YouTube will approach 2024 election misinformation, but that adjustments to its strategy would be made as needed. YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi told PolitiFact, “We’ll have more details to share about our approach towards the 2024 election in the months to come.” Twitter’s handling of misinformation Twitter’s approach to misinformation has also shifted after its 2022 takeover by Elon Musk, who calls himself a free-speech advocate but has sometimes flip-flopped on some free speech-related decisions. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation
Skip to contentSkip to site indexBusiness Today’s PaperBusiness|Twitter expands content-moderation rules to cover crises like war and disasters.https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/19/business/twitter-content-moderation.htmlShare full articleSee more headlines from our Daily Business BriefingAdvertisementSKIP ADVERTISEMENTTwitter expands content-moderation rules to cover crises like war and disasters.The new policies are being added even as Elon Musk, who is in the process of acquiring the company, aggressively criticizes its moderation rules.Share full articleTwitter’s headquarters in San Francisco
. NBC, "Days before the midterms, Twitter lays off employees who fight misinformation," November 4, 2022. Bloomberg, "Twitter cuts more staff overseeing content moderation," January 7, 2023. Meta, "Our approach to newsworthy content," August 25, 2022. Email interview with Ivy Choi, policy communications manager at YouTube, June 14, 2023. Email interview with TikTok spokesperson, June 14, 2023. Email interview with Nora Benavidez, senior counsel and director of digital justice and civil rights at Free Press, June 14, 2023. Email interview with Kate Starbird, associate professor at the University of Washington, June 14, 2023. Email interview with Megan Brown, research engineer and data scientist at New York University’s Stern Center for Social Media and Politics, June 14, 2023
. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options. The news release said little about how YouTube will approach 2024 election misinformation, but that adjustments to its strategy would be made as needed. YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi told PolitiFact, "We'll have more details to share about our approach towards the 2024 election in the months to come." Twitter’s handling of misinformation Twitter’s approach to misinformation has also shifted after its 2022 takeover by Elon Musk, who calls himself a free-speech advocate but has sometimes flip-flopped on some free speech-related decisions. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation
. Later this month at Twitter’s San Francisco offices, EU officials are set to review whether the platform is likely to be compliant with a sweeping content moderation law that could eventually trigger millions of dollars in fines for Twitter if it’s found to be noncompliant. That law, known as the Digital Services Act, will require so-called “very large online platforms” including Twitter to abide by tough content moderation standards by as early as August. It’s far from clear whether the company can meet those requirements by the deadline, and recent developments at Twitter seem to have further alarmed EU regulators in that respect. For months, as Musk has increasingly welcomed more incendiary speech onto the platform Twitter had previously restricted, EU officials have been reminding Twitter of its content moderation obligations under the DSA
. Photograph: Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto/ShutterstockX This article is more than 4 months oldTwitter allows US political candidates and parties to advertise in policy switchThis article is more than 4 months oldAnnouncement by the Elon Musk-owned social media platform has experts concerned over misinformation ahead of 2024 electionKari Paul and agenciesWed 30 Aug 2023 03.04 CESTLast modified on Fri 1 Sep 2023 12.10 CESTThe social media company formerly known as Twitter said on Tuesday it would now allow political advertising in the US from candidates and political parties, reversing previous policies and raising concerns over misinformation and hate speech ahead of the 2024 presidential election.Trump’s return to Twitter solidifies a sharp right turn for Musk’s platformRead moreBefore the billionaire Elon Musk acquired the company, now called X, in October 2022, Twitter had banned all political ads globally since 2019
Copied TikTok, Meta, Twitter, and YouTube All Have Different Plans for 2024 Election Misinformation Here's how top social media platforms are changing their policies in advance of the 2024 election
. By Sevana Wenn • June 6, 2023 How Meta, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube plan to address 2024 election misinformation Nick LaLota stated on November 18, 2023 in a social media post: Under New York’s Clean Slate Act “violent crimes … will now be automatically sealed after a set time - like they never happened.” By Jill Terreri Ramos • January 1, 2024 Americans for Prosperity stated on December 4, 2023 in X, formerly Twitter: “Wisconsin utilities have charged ratepayers more than $1.9 billion of increases since 2019.” By Laura Schulte • December 29, 2023 Robin Vos stated on September 15, 2023 in News release:
. "It is interesting to note that, after false claims about voter fraud helped to motivate and mobilize the Jan. 6 (2021) attack on the U.S. Capitol, the reaction from platforms has been to move away from moderating such claims, rather than doubling down on moderation," she said. "We could attribute that to the success of the effort to rhetorically equate social media moderation to ‘censorship.’" Starbird added, "All of these changes will make it even more challenging to track and report on rumors, misinformation and disinformation in 2024." Sign Up For Our Weekly Newsletter Our Sources SOURCES: YouTube Official Blog, "An update on our approach to US election misinformation," June 2, 2023. YouTube Official Blog, "Supporting the 2020 U.S. election," December 9, 2020
. The company announced new policies on Thursday aimed at combating misinformation on its platform.Credit…Jim Wilson/The New York TimesBy Kate CongerMay 19, 2022Twitter said on Thursday that it was adding new policies aimed at combating misinformation about the war in Ukraine and other crises like natural disasters, an expansion of its rules against misleading content.The company announced the new policy even as it is in the process of being acquired by Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, who has said he intends to do away with Twitter’s content moderation policies.Under its new rule, Twitter will downplay tweets that spread misinformation about crises like natural disasters and wars that could spread rapidly across the platform without intervention
. Weekly Email Newsletter Daily Email Newsletter Your Email Address Sign Up How Meta, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube plan to address 2024 election misinformation Elections Technology The Facebook logo is seen on a mobile phone, Oct. 14, 2022, in Boston. (AP) By Sevana Wenn July 6, 2023 If Your Time is short YouTube said June 2 it will no longer remove videos that include false information about the 2020 presidential election. Some advocates warn that the policy change could have ripple effects across social media platforms and allow misinformation to spread more easily. PolitiFact examined election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta
. Please check back later. Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Twitter loses its top content moderation official at a key moment Analysis by Brian Fung, CNN 3 minute read Updated 3:40 PM EDT, Fri June 2, 2023 Link Copied! Video Ad Feedback Elon Musk: 'I'll say what I want to say' even if it means losing money 00:40 - Source: CNN CNN — Twitter has lost its top content moderation official just weeks before the company is set to undergo a regulatory stress test by European Union officials focused on its handling of user content, in the latest sign of turbulence at the company under owner Elon Musk. On Thursday, Twitter’s head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin, left the company. The move coincided with the company’s content moderation dispute with the Daily Wire, a conservative outlet
. The company announced new policies on Thursday aimed at combating misinformation on its platform.Credit…Jim Wilson/The New York TimesBy Kate CongerMay 19, 2022Twitter said on Thursday that it was adding new policies aimed at combating misinformation about the war in Ukraine and other crises like natural disasters, an expansion of its rules against misleading content.The company announced the new policy even as it is in the process of being acquired by Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, who has said he intends to do away with Twitter’s content moderation policies.Under its new rule, Twitter will downplay tweets that spread misinformation about crises like natural disasters and wars that could spread rapidly across the platform without intervention
. A separate page about misinformation in Twitter’s “Help Center” section remained live.Fears about ads appearing in proximity to misinformation and other problematic posts have led General Mills, United Airlines and several other large companies to pause their spending on Twitter in recent days. Content moderation has sparked heated exchanges on Madison Avenue with and about Mr. Musk.Tiffany Hsu is a tech reporter covering misinformation and disinformation. More about Tiffany HsuA version of this article appears in print on , Section B, Page 3 of the New York edition with the headline: Resistance to Misinformation Less Under Musk, Report Says
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. Brown said misinformation could foment on these platforms and spread across others. Former President Donald Trump, who has falsely denied his defeat in the 2020 election, owns Truth Social. YouTube’s recent policy change YouTube’s June 2 announcement cited the importance of open political debate as a key motivation for its policy change. "We find that while removing this content does curb some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm," the company’s press release said. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options
. Brown said misinformation could foment on these platforms and spread across others. Former President Donald Trump, who has falsely denied his defeat in the 2020 election, owns Truth Social. YouTube’s recent policy change YouTube’s June 2 announcement cited the importance of open political debate as a key motivation for its policy change. “We find that while removing this content does curb some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm,” the company’s press release said. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options
. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options. The news release said little about how YouTube will approach 2024 election misinformation, but that adjustments to its strategy would be made as needed. YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi told PolitiFact, “We’ll have more details to share about our approach towards the 2024 election in the months to come.” Twitter’s handling of misinformation Twitter’s approach to misinformation has also shifted after its 2022 takeover by Elon Musk, who calls himself a free-speech advocate but has sometimes flip-flopped on some free speech-related decisions. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation
. In 2020, Twitter developed an extensive set of rules that sought to prohibit “harmful misinformation” about the virus and its vaccines. Between January 2020 and September 2022, Twitter suspended more than 11,000 accounts for breaking Covid misinformation rules and removed almost 100,000 pieces of content that violated those rules, according to statistics published by Twitter. The policy received acclaim from medical professionals: In an advisory to technology platforms, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy cited Twitter’s rules as an example of what companies should do to combat misinformation. Twitter did not appear to formally announce the rule change. Instead, some Twitter users Monday night spotted a note added to the page on Twitter’s website that outlines its Covid policy
. The releases so far have focused on some of the social media company’s most high-profile, and controversial, content moderation decisions. Getty Images Elon Musk says Trump didn't violate Twitter's rules. The truth is more complicated The Twitter Files reports appear aimed at calling into question the integrity of Twitter’s former leadership and riling up the right-leaning user base that new owner Elon Musk has increasingly courted. The latest release, for example, appeared to imply that Twitter executives had sidestepped the platform’s rules when deciding to ban Trump and instead sought a justification to support a partisan decision they’d already made. That interpretation, while not fully supported by the documents, was echoed by Musk, who has cheered and seemingly sanctioned the release of the documents
. amnesty begins next week."The Tesla chief executive has vowed to make Twitter a hub for free speech online following his $44bn (£37bn) purchase.Analysis by Rachel Schraer, BBC health and disinformation reporterCriticisms the platform has been slow to act on false or unproven health claims are nothing new.Even when Twitter did introduce an option to report misleading posts in the summer of 2021 - something it now seems to be rowing back on - I heard from dozens of people who said the process was unclear and the option didn't always seem to be available.But the site did seem to be trying to get a grip on some of its most potentially harmful posts, removing more than 10,000 accounts - like Dr Robert Malone, whose message Covid vaccines are ineffective or very dangerous is contradicted by the overwhelming weight of evidence.Now the direction at Twitter HQ is changing, the question is whether these accounts will return or new ones will be emboldened to share incorrect information, that could influence the decisions people make about their health.Related TopicsSocial mediaElon MuskDisinformationFake NewsTwitterMore on this storyMusk feuds with Apple over Twitter advertisingPublished28 November 2022Why Trump isn't returning to Twitter (for now)Published25 November 2022Twitter charity partners condemn 'dangerous' changesPublished21 November 2022Top StoriesBlasts near Iran general Qasem Soleimani's tomb kill 73Published44 minutes agoLive. UN urges restraint after Hamas officials killed in LebanonHamas leader's assassination sparks wider war fearsPublished1 hour agoFeaturesSuperstar DJ Peggy Gou breaks out of the dance bubbleHarvard leader's exit plays into bitter campus warsHow passengers escaped 'hell' of Japan jet fireballThe young singers killed by a Russian rocketMysterious medieval cemetery unearthedWhy India matters in Bangladeshi electionsThe strange US kidnap trend targeting Chinese studentsColossal sea monster skull goes on public displayHow Japan’s powerful earthquakes have shifted the landElsewhere on the BBCDid drinking tea save British lives?The 'vibecession' driving holiday mass layoffsWhy olive oil prices are soaringMost Read1Blasts near Iran general's tomb kill 73 - state TV2Hamas leader's assassination sparks wider war fears3How crew pulled off flawless evacuation from Japan jet inferno4What to expect when Epstein names list is unsealed5In pictures: Nordic states gripped by winter freeze6The young singers killed by a Russian rocket7Harvard leader's exit plays into bitter campus wars8Mysterious medieval cemetery unearthed9The strange US kidnap trend targeting Chinese students10Insurance warning after family hit with £100k billBBC News ServicesOn your mobileOn smart speakersGet news alertsContact BBC NewsHomeNewsSportEarthReelWorklifeTravelCultureFutureMusicTVWeatherSoundsTerms of UseAbout the BBCPrivacy PolicyCookiesAccessibility HelpParental GuidanceContact the BBCGet Personalised NewslettersWhy you can trust the BBCAdvertise with us© 2024 BBC
. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation. Last November, the company laid off about 15% of its trust and safety team, which moderates content and regulates hate speech. In January, there were further cuts affecting at least a dozen members of these teams. The platform’s written election guidelines haven’t changed since PolitiFact’s last report in August. The guidelines say that people may not use Twitter to manipulate or interfere with elections, and that posts containing misinformation could be deamplified or labeled using the community notes feature. The notes feature allows users to add context and sources to inaccurate posts. However, an analysis on behalf of The Associated Press found that following Trump’s May 10 town hall, the 10 most widely shared tweets promoting a “rigged election” narrative circulated unchecked
. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options. The news release said little about how YouTube will approach 2024 election misinformation, but that adjustments to its strategy would be made as needed. YouTube spokesperson Ivy Choi told PolitiFact, "We'll have more details to share about our approach towards the 2024 election in the months to come." Twitter’s handling of misinformation Twitter’s approach to misinformation has also shifted after its 2022 takeover by Elon Musk, who calls himself a free-speech advocate but has sometimes flip-flopped on some free speech-related decisions. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation
. 7, 2022Concerns about misinformation on Twitter have flared in the days since Elon Musk’s takeover on Oct. 27, pushing away advertisers, rattling researchers and increasing fears that conspiracy theories and false narratives could pollute the political discourse on the platform ahead of the midterm elections.Researchers at the Fletcher School at Tufts University said in a report that “early signs show the platform is heading in the wrong direction under his leadership — at a particularly inconvenient time for American democracy.”The researchers said they had tracked narratives about civil war, election fraud, citizen policing of voting, and allegations of pedophilia and grooming on Twitter from July through October
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. Twitter did not appear to formally announce the rule change. Instead, some Twitter users Monday night spotted a note added to the page on Twitter’s website that outlines its Covid policy. “Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy,” the note read. Musk has promised to restore many previously banned Twitter accounts as soon as this week. It is possible that among the restored accounts will be some of the 11,000 banned under Twitter’s former Covid misinformation rules. The Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX CEO tested the limits of Twitter’s previous policy in the early days of the pandemic. In March and April 2020, Musk used the social network to downplay the magnitude of the crisis and express frustration with how the pandemic had been handled
. The company announced new policies on Thursday aimed at combating misinformation on its platform.Credit…Jim Wilson/The New York TimesBy Kate CongerMay 19, 2022Twitter said on Thursday that it was adding new policies aimed at combating misinformation about the war in Ukraine and other crises like natural disasters, an expansion of its rules against misleading content.The company announced the new policy even as it is in the process of being acquired by Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, who has said he intends to do away with Twitter’s content moderation policies.Under its new rule, Twitter will downplay tweets that spread misinformation about crises like natural disasters and wars that could spread rapidly across the platform without intervention
. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesTwitter’s owner, Elon Musk, has overseen some sudden and drastic changes to the social media site
. In 2020, Twitter developed an extensive set of rules that sought to prohibit “harmful misinformation” about the virus and its vaccines. Between January 2020 and September 2022, Twitter suspended more than 11,000 accounts for breaking Covid misinformation rules and removed almost 100,000 pieces of content that violated those rules, according to statistics published by Twitter. The policy received acclaim from medical professionals: In an advisory to technology platforms, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy cited Twitter’s rules as an example of what companies should do to combat misinformation. Twitter did not appear to formally announce the rule change. Instead, some Twitter users Monday night spotted a note added to the page on Twitter’s website that outlines its Covid policy
. Technology Twitter will no longer enforce its COVID misinformation policy November 29, 20229:40 PM ET By The Associated Press Enlarge this image Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP Twitter will no longer enforce its policy against COVID-19 misinformation, raising concerns among public health experts and social media researchers that the change could have serious consequences if it discourages vaccination and other efforts to combat the still-spreading virus
. It banned political ads altogether in 2019. Policies against spreading lies about Covid and vaccines lead to the suspension of over 11,000 accounts during the early part of the pandemic. Controversial accounts like those of Kanye West and Donald Trump were banned even though they had millions of followers. Significantly, the service prevented the spread of links to a New York Post story about Hunter Biden’s laptop during the final weeks of the 2020 election, a move many considered a step too far.Everything is different now. Among the first things Elon Musk did upon taking control of Twitter was announce a policy of “General Amnesty” for suspended users, overturning bans on thousands of accounts that promoted vaccine denial, general hate speech, bullying, and just about everything else
. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesXExplainerHow Twitter’s new drastic changes will affect what users can view on the siteElon Musk says ‘temporary limits’ address security issues, while some users suspect move is to lift Twitter Blue paid subscriptionsJosh Taylor and Dan MilmoMon 3 Jul 2023 13.13 CESTFirst published on Mon 3 Jul 2023 09.14 CESTTwitter has limited how much content users can view each day in a move the company’s owner claims is about addressing “system manipulation”.Does this latest move spell the end of the social media platform for good – and where can people go now?What has Elon Musk done to Twitter?Last week Twitter made a number of abrupt changes reducing the usability of the service.Twitter faces lawsuit over alleged non-payment for office services in four countriesRead moreFirst, the company required users to log in to view the site – previously even people without Twitter profiles could view tweets
. And he has restored the accounts of conspiracy theorists and extremists who were previously banned. The changes have been applauded by many conservatives who say Twitter’s previous moderation attempts amounted to censorship of their views. But pro-democracy advocates argue the takeover has shifted what once was a flawed but useful resource for news and election information into a largely unregulated echo chamber that amplifies hate speech and misinformation. Twitter used to be one of the “most responsible” platforms, showing a willingness to test features that might reduce misinformation even at the expense of engagement, said Jesse Lehrich, co-founder of Accountable Tech, a nonprofit watchdog group. “Obviously now they’re on the exact other end of the spectrum,” he said, adding that he believes the company’s changes have given other platforms cover to relax their own policies
. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation. Last November, the company laid off about 15% of its trust and safety team, which moderates content and regulates hate speech. In January, there were further cuts affecting at least a dozen members of these teams. The platform’s written election guidelines haven’t changed since PolitiFact’s last report in August. The guidelines say that people may not use Twitter to manipulate or interfere with elections, and that posts containing misinformation could be deamplified or labeled using the community notes feature. The notes feature allows users to add context and sources to inaccurate posts. However, an analysis on behalf of The Associated Press found that following Trump’s May 10 town hall, the 10 most widely shared tweets promoting a “rigged election” narrative circulated unchecked
. SOCIAL MEDIA GUARDRAILS FADE It was just over a year ago that Elon Musk bought Twitter and began firing its executives, dismantling some of its core features and reshaping the social media platform into what’s now known as X. Since then, he has upended its verification system, leaving public officials vulnerable to impersonators. He has gutted the teams that once fought misinformation on the platform, leaving the community of users to moderate itself. And he has restored the accounts of conspiracy theorists and extremists who were previously banned. The changes have been applauded by many conservatives who say Twitter’s previous moderation attempts amounted to censorship of their views
. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.after newsletter promotionAustralia’s eSafety umpire issues legal warning to Twitter amid rise in online hateRead moreThe changes are likely to affect those who use Twitter as a resource to get immediate breaking news.Where can we go instead?Up until the last few days, Twitter had still had been largely functional and many users had not been pushed to leave the site.But as Twitter makes it harder for users to view tweets, a successor may emerge.One option is Bluesky – launched in February by the former Twitter chief Jack Dorsey. The site had to shut off new sign-ups over the weekend as users began leaving Twitter
. The company announced new policies on Thursday aimed at combating misinformation on its platform.Credit…Jim Wilson/The New York TimesBy Kate CongerMay 19, 2022Twitter said on Thursday that it was adding new policies aimed at combating misinformation about the war in Ukraine and other crises like natural disasters, an expansion of its rules against misleading content.The company announced the new policy even as it is in the process of being acquired by Elon Musk, the billionaire chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, who has said he intends to do away with Twitter’s content moderation policies.Under its new rule, Twitter will downplay tweets that spread misinformation about crises like natural disasters and wars that could spread rapidly across the platform without intervention
. Some advocates warn that the policy change could have ripple effects across social media platforms and allow misinformation to spread more easily. PolitiFact examined election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta. We found that although most policies haven’t changed since the 2022 midterm elections, enforcement has been inconsistent and layoffs have hindered fact-checking operations. Experts suggest that YouTube’s policy change, coupled with layoffs at other companies, signals a broader shift away from misinformation regulation ahead of the 2024 election cycle. As the 2024 presidential election comes into focus, tech giants have struggled to balance curtailing misinformation with protecting users’ political speech
. Eagle-eyed users spotted the change Monday night, noting that a one-sentence update had been made to Twitter's online rules: "Effective November 23, 2022, Twitter is no longer enforcing the COVID-19 misleading information policy." Technology How Twitter's platform helped its users, personally and professionally By Tuesday, some Twitter accounts were testing the new boundaries and celebrating the platform's hands-off approach, which comes after Twitter was purchased by Elon Musk. "This policy was used to silence people across the world who questioned the media narrative surrounding the virus and treatment options," tweeted Dr. Simone Gold, a physician and leading purveyor of COVID-19 misinformation
. Posts that are labeled as misinformation are made less visible in users’ feeds. Meta’s third-party fact-checking program does not apply to active politicians, including Trump. Like Twitter, Meta has significantly cut its staff in recent months. CNBC reported in May that Meta laid off about 200 content moderators in early January 2023. Meta also laid off at least 16 members of Instagram’s well-being group and more than 100 positions related to trust, integrity and responsibility, according to CNBC. Asked whether Meta will implement any new safeguards or make changes to existing regulations before the 2024 election, a spokesperson said, “We continue to enforce our misinformation policies.” Looking ahead to 2024 Advocates warn that YouTube’s policy change might contribute to election misinformation spreading unchecked
. In 2020, Twitter developed an extensive set of rules that sought to prohibit “harmful misinformation” about the virus and its vaccines. Between January 2020 and September 2022, Twitter suspended more than 11,000 accounts for breaking Covid misinformation rules and removed almost 100,000 pieces of content that violated those rules, according to statistics published by Twitter. The policy received acclaim from medical professionals: In an advisory to technology platforms, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy cited Twitter’s rules as an example of what companies should do to combat misinformation. Twitter did not appear to formally announce the rule change. Instead, some Twitter users Monday night spotted a note added to the page on Twitter’s website that outlines its Covid policy
. Twitter has reduced its workforce responsible for handling misinformation. Last November, the company laid off about 15% of its trust and safety team, which moderates content and regulates hate speech. In January, there were further cuts affecting at least a dozen members of these teams. The platform’s written election guidelines haven’t changed since PolitiFact’s last report in August. The guidelines say that people may not use Twitter to manipulate or interfere with elections, and that posts containing misinformation could be deamplified or labeled using the community notes feature. The notes feature allows users to add context and sources to inaccurate posts. However, an analysis on behalf of The Associated Press found that following Trump’s May 10 town hall, the 10 most widely shared tweets promoting a “rigged election” narrative circulated unchecked
. Brown said misinformation could foment on these platforms and spread across others. Former President Donald Trump, who has falsely denied his defeat in the 2020 election, owns Truth Social. YouTube’s recent policy change YouTube’s June 2 announcement cited the importance of open political debate as a key motivation for its policy change. "We find that while removing this content does curb some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm," the company’s press release said. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options
. PolitiFact examined the state of election misinformation policies at YouTube, Twitter, TikTok and Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram. We found that although most policies haven’t changed since the 2022 midterm elections, enforcement has been inconsistent, and platforms including Twitter and Meta have reduced content moderation staff. Experts also suggest that these personnel cuts, coupled with YouTube’s policy change, signal a broader shift away from misinformation regulation ahead of the 2024 election. What’s YouTube’s role in the information ecosystem? Researchers at New York University’s Center for Social Media and Politics found that stricter policies implemented by YouTube in the weeks following the 2020 election had positive effects across social media platforms
. Technology Twitter will no longer enforce its COVID misinformation policy November 29, 20229:40 PM ET By The Associated Press Enlarge this image Jeff Chiu/AP Jeff Chiu/AP Twitter will no longer enforce its policy against COVID-19 misinformation, raising concerns among public health experts and social media researchers that the change could have serious consequences if it discourages vaccination and other efforts to combat the still-spreading virus
. Brown said misinformation could foment on these platforms and spread across others. Former President Donald Trump, who has falsely denied his defeat in the 2020 election, owns Truth Social. YouTube’s recent policy change YouTube’s June 2 announcement cited the importance of open political debate as a key motivation for its policy change. “We find that while removing this content does curb some misinformation, it could also have the unintended effect of curtailing political speech without meaningfully reducing the risk of violence or other real-world harm,” the company’s press release said. The platform will keep other guidelines in place that were adopted in 2020, such as prioritizing authoritative search results and removing misinformation about the time, location and validity of voting options
. Posts that are labeled as misinformation are made less visible in users’ feeds. Meta’s third-party fact-checking program does not apply to active politicians, including Trump. Like Twitter, Meta has significantly cut its staff in recent months. CNBC reported in May that Meta laid off about 200 content moderators in early January 2023. Meta also laid off at least 16 members of Instagram’s well-being group and more than 100 positions related to trust, integrity and responsibility, according to CNBC. Asked whether Meta will implement any new safeguards or make changes to existing regulations before the 2024 election, a spokesperson said, "We continue to enforce our misinformation policies." Looking ahead to 2024 Advocates warn that YouTube’s policy change might contribute to election misinformation spreading unchecked
. YouTube Official Blog, "Supporting the 2020 U.S. election," December 9, 2020. The New York Times, "Youtube’s stronger misinformation policies had a spillover effect on Twitter and Facebook, researchers say," October 14, 2021. Twitter, "Civic integrity misleading information policy," accessed June 7, 2023. Associated Press, "False claims of a stolen election thrive unchecked on Twitter even as Musk promises otherwise," May 18, 2023. Meta, "Preparing for elections," accessed June 7, 2023. Meta, "Misinformation", accessed June 7, 2023. TikTok, "Election Integrity," accessed June 7, 2023. TikTok, "TikTok’s H2 2020 Transparency Report," February 24, 2021. NBC, "Days before the midterms, Twitter lays off employees who fight misinformation," November 4, 2022. Bloomberg, "Twitter cuts more staff overseeing content moderation," January 7, 2023
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