Many Twitter users have reported threats of genocide and the use of weapons of mass destruction by one Twitterati in particular, but Twitter does not think these violate the terms of usage at Twitter. Tweet, at Mashable.
The President of the United States possibly made another threat of nuclear war on Twitter, but the company doesn't seem to think the post breaks any of its rules. Donald Trump boasted on Twitter about how his nuclear button was bigger than North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's, and people are calling (again) for the president to be banned from the platform.
Folks on Twitter are asking the platform whether this violates its policy against violent threats. So far the response from Twitter has been in the form of an automated response in which Twitter says Trump's message represents "no violation of the Twitter Rules against abusive behavior."
Mashable checked, just in case:
Twitter confirmed to Mashable that "this Tweet did not violate our terms of service," referencing the Twitter Rules against violent threats and glorification of violence.
"You may not make specific threats of violence or wish for the serious physical harm, death, or disease of an individual or group of people," the rules state.
So it seems that if you are going to threaten serious "physical harm, death or disease" on Twitter, be sure to include everyone by using nukes, instead of just one individual or group.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @12:34PM (1 child)
You may not because the state has a monopoly on violence. Reciprocal threats of violence are not held to the same standard in law, just as self defence must always be entirely lawful. For the president of the US to respond in-kind to threats by a hostile nation should be legal on any platform.
Twitter's rules are silly, a threat must be credible to be actionable in law. Even obvious attempts at humor; Like stating I'm going to assail Twitter's CEO with a baguette while dressed as the statue of liberty, standing on one leg while singing the Star Spangled Banner are verboten under totalitarian Twitter policy. This is why Twitter and FaceBook are doomed to failure.
(Score: 1, Touché) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @12:49PM
>I'm going to assail Twitter's CEO with a baguette while dressed as the statue of liberty, standing on one leg while singing the Star Spangled Banner
wth, that was MY OWN plan!