Twitter to Put a Warning on Swastika Photos, Other Hate Images

Twitter Inc. said on Monday it would begin issuing a warning before a user can see pictures with Nazi swastikas and other items it determines are hateful imagery, as well as ban their use in any profile photos on its social media network.

Twitter is cracking down at last on Nazis and other vile groups using the platform to spread hate.

The company has started enforcing new rules announced last month that ban users who advocate violence or are affiliated with extremist groups. The social-media giant is also requiring users to click through warnings before viewing hate imagery, such as swastikas.

“Our hateful-conduct policy and rules against abusive behavior prohibit promoting violence against or directly attacking or threatening other people . . . as well as engaging in abusive behavior that harasses, intimidates or uses fear to silence another person’s voice,” Twitter said in a blog post outlining the changes.

The new policies also ban users who associate either online or offline with organizations that promote violence against civilians.

The step is one of several that Twitter said it would take to crack down on white nationalists and other violent or hateful groups, which have become unwelcome on a service that once took an absolutist view of free speech.

Twitter said in a statement that it would shut down accounts affiliated with non-government organizations that promote violence against civilians, and ban user names that constitute a violent threat or racial slur.

It said it would also remove tweets that it determined celebrate violence or glorify people who commit it.

Twitter suspended an unknown number of accounts on Monday, including one belonging to Jayda Fransen, the Britain First leader whose videos critical of Islam were retweeted multiple times by U.S. President Donald Trump last month.

Founded in 2006, the San Francisco company had called itself "the free speech wing of the free speech party" and tried to stay out of battles among users. But that has changed as persistent harassers have driven some women and minorities off Twitter, limiting their ability to express themselves.

In October, Twitter vowed to toughen rules on online sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of misconduct.

Tweets can still include hate imagery, but users will have to click through a warning to see them, the company said. Besides being banned from profile photos, hate images may be further restricted where national laws require, as in Germany.

The Nazi swastika was the only specific example of a hateful image that Twitter gave, but the company said it would try to give warnings for all symbols historically associated with hate groups or that depict people as less than human.

FSMSmart gives you the latest news updates, market trends, and news about forex, commodities, stocks and many more! Open an account now and learn more about other investment opportunities on FSM Smart.