Just one day after the White House confirmed that the Department of Homeland Security’s Disinformation Governance Board had been put on hold — and that board chief Nina Jankowicz had resigned — Twitter announced plans to implement a new “crisis misinformation policy.”
The plan, according to a tweet from @TwitterSafety, would be implemented to ensure that Twitter as a platform did not amplify or contribute to the spread of misinformation.
“People turn to Twitter during crisis times to share news, find support, and stay connected. Today, we’re launching a crisis misinformation policy so Twitter doesn’t recommend or amplify viral, false content that can further harm already vulnerable groups,” the tweet read.
People turn to Twitter during crisis times to share news, find support, and stay connected. Today, we’re launching a crisis misinformation policy so Twitter doesn’t recommend or amplify viral, false content that can further harm already vulnerable groups.https://t.co/NyhoGo5RQU
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) May 19, 2022
“We’ve been refining our approach to crisis misinformation, drawing on input from global experts and human rights organizations. As part of this new framework, we’ll start adding warning notices on high visibility misleading Tweets related to the war in Ukraine,” the thread continued.
We’ve been refining our approach to crisis misinformation, drawing on input from global experts and human rights organizations. As part of this new framework, we’ll start adding warning notices on high visibility misleading Tweets related to the war in Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/fr0NGleJXP
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) May 19, 2022
A lengthier explanation from Yoel Roth, Twitter’s head of Safety and Integrity, introduced the measure as “a global policy that will guide our efforts to elevate credible, authoritative information, and will help to ensure viral misinformation isn’t amplified or recommended by us during crises.”
The ultimate goal, Roth said, was to prevent Twitter from becoming party to misleading information that could then “undermine public trust and cause further harm.”
Roth included a list of things that users could expect to see warning labels attached to:
- False coverage or event reporting, or information that mischaracterizes conditions on the ground as a conflict evolves;
- 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.
“Strong commentary, efforts to debunk or fact check, and personal anecdotes or first person accounts do not fall within the scope of the policy,” Roth concluded.
But critics were immediately wary of the new policy.
Nationally syndicated radio host Dana Loesch commented, “They’re gonna get their Ministry of Truth one way or the other folks.”
“Brought to you by the same people that told you Hunter’s laptop was ‘Russian disinformation,'” Michael Seifert added.
“Twitter is doubling down on trying to censor dissent,” Kyle Lamb tweeted. “They want to only amplify professional liars.”
“So, is Twitter taking the place of Biden’s Disinfo Board?” Emma Woodhouse wanted to know.
“LOL Good thing I wasn’t drinking anything. Could have drowned,” @stonekettle quipped.