Twitter Reportedly Reviewing Policies on Permanent User Bans

Twitter Inc. is reportedly looking at its policies on permanently banning users, suggesting that the social media giant could be trying to align its content moderation with the vision Tesla Inc. chief executive Elon Musk has for the platform.

Sources with knowledge of the matter said the San Francisco, California-based company has been exploring alternative content moderation tools to replace the ban, its heaviest penalty for not complying with its policies.

Keeping the Strictness of Permanent Ban Policies In Check

Shortly after striking the $44-billion deal to acquire Twitter, Musk in May announced his plans to make some changes to the platform’s content moderation measures. He has also said he would lift the ban on former US President Donald Trump.

However, any change may not allow a reversal of Trump’s Twitter ban, according to two sources. It is for the reason that lifting bans for violating its rules against inciting violence are not under consideration.

Twitter imposed a lifetime ban on Trump after a group of his supporters stormed and breached the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021.

Instead, the Silicon Valley company is exploring areas where it could have been extremely harsh by removing users’ access to its services for minor offenses, such as spreading misinformation or disinformation.

The review started months ago and has yet to reach a conclusion. It also came amid renewed focus on the policy after Twitter suspended the account of rapper Kanye West over the weekend for a post that users described as anti-Semitic.

Twitter stated on its website that it permanently banned users who have breached its rules “in a particularly egregious way” or have repeatedly violated them even after being notified by the company.

Per the social media platform’s policies, users are prohibited from sharing violent threats, terrorism, harassment, and hate speech.

Twitter also has a clear strike policy for spreading misleading or false information about COVID. The policy permanently bans a user after receiving five strikes – breaching the rules five times.

In addition to bans, the company carries out temporary suspensions on accounts and marks or lowers the visibility of content that does not comply with its rules.