Twitter says it's not tackling all misinformation on the app, only that with 'the highest potential for harm'
- Twitter said it would prioritize tweets with "the highest potential for harm," as part of their new policies on labeling misinformation.
- Late last month, the social media company found itself the target of an Executive Order signed by President Trump after the company flagged his tweets for inaccuracy and glorifying violence.
- Trump signed an order to tighten Section 230, which allows "enables social media companies to maintain open forums without being held legally responsible for users' posts," after Twitter flagged some of his tweets, Business Insider previously reported.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
We are NOT attempting to address all misinformation. Instead, we prioritize based on the highest potential for harm, focusing on manipulated media, civic integrity, and COVID-19. Likelihood, severity and type of potential harm — along with reach and scale — factor into this.— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) June 3, 2020
Twitter said that based on a survey at the end of last year, respondents said they believed that Twitter "shouldn't determine the truthfulness of tweets," but rather "provide context to help people make up their own minds in cases where the substance of a tweet is disputed."
"Hence, our focus is on providing context, not fact-checking," Twitter wrote.
When we label Tweets we link to Twitter conversation that shows three things for context:— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) June 3, 2020
1⃣Factual statements (e.g. “ballots are only being sent to registered voters”)
2⃣Counterpoint opinions & perspectives
3⃣Ongoing public conversation around the issuehttps://t.co/gSPzaEZ1Fk
The company explained that it would focus on the misinformation of "manipulated media, civic integrity, and COVID-19."
Twitter is already addressing altered media, and "issues of civic integrity and public health given the critical importance of elections and the current health crisis."
Late last month, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to reinterpret Section 230, which allows "enables social media companies to maintain open forums without being held legally responsible for users' posts," after Twitter flagged some of his tweets, Business Insider previously reported.
The tweets labeled contained false information and violated Twitter's terms of service.
Twitter defended its actions, calling the executive order "a reactionary and politicized approach to a landmark law."
This EO is a reactionary and politicized approach to a landmark law. #Section230 protects American innovation and freedom of expression, and it’s underpinned by democratic values. Attempts to unilaterally erode it threaten the future of online speech and Internet freedoms.— Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) May 29, 2020
On Friday, Twitter flagged another one of Trump's tweets, in which the president suggested that looters in Minnesota might be shot. The official White House account posted the same message, which Twitter also labeled with a warning.
This EO is a reactionary and politicized approach to a landmark law. #Section230 protects American innovation and freedom of expression, and it’s underpinned by democratic values. Attempts to unilaterally erode it threaten the future of online speech and Internet freedoms.— Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) May 29, 2020
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