After joining hands with tech giants like Google, Microsoft and others on Wednesday, Twitter has now increased moderation of misinformation surrounding COVID-19. As part of its expanded safety rules, the firm tweeted that it will now require people to remove tweets that will put others at a higher risk of transmitting the disease.
Content that increases the chance that someone contracts or transmits the virus, including:
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) March 18, 2020
- Denial of expert guidance
- Encouragement to use fake or ineffective treatments, preventions, and diagnostic techniques
- Misleading content purporting to be from experts or authorities
This includes content that is a denial of expert guidance or established scientific facts. Not only this, but misleading content claiming to be from authentic sources are also included. Content that encourages people to use fake or ineffective treatments, preventions, and diagnostic techniques also comes under the banner. All of these measures, including many others are a part of Twitter"s expanded definition of harm.
Twitter has claimed that its approach to protecting the public conversation is not static. Considering this, the site will review its policies daily and share updates regarding the same.