Twitter to Hide Misleading Tweets During Times of Crisis

pcmag.com:

Twitter is expanding its warning labels to cover crisis misinformation. The social network aims to reduce potential harm by slapping notices on highly visible tweets and those from high-profile accounts.

Posts found in violation of the new crisis misinformation policy are hidden behind a warning(Opens in a new window) of possible "harm to crisis-affected populations." For "accountability purposes," however, the tweet remains available to view with the click of a button.

Users can expect to get hit with a warning if their tweet includes:

False coverage or event reporting or information mischaracterizing conditions on the ground

False allegations regarding use of force, incursions on territorial sovereignty, or around the use of weapons

Demonstrably false or misleading allegations of war crimes or mass atrocities against specific populations

False information regarding international community response, sanctions, defensive actions, or humanitarian operations

Though still accessible, infringing content will not be amplified or recommended across the platform; likes, retweets, and shares are also disabled, and the notice links to more details about Twitter's approach to crisis misinformation. Strong commentary, efforts to debunk or fact check, and personal anecdotes or first-person accounts do not fall within the scope of this new policy, according to Yoel Roth, head of safety and integrity at Twitter.

"Alongside our existing work to make reliable information more accessible during crisis events, this new approach will help to slow the spread by us of the most visible, misleading content, particularly that which could lead to severe harms," Roth explained.

To determine the accuracy of online claims, the social network