Twitter to selectively 'censor' tweets by country

**Valigarmander** · 01-27-2012, 11:18 AM

BBC News - Twitter to selectively 'censor' tweets by country

Quote:

Twitter has announced that it now has the technology to selectively block tweets on a country by country basis.

In its blog, Twitter said it could "reactively withhold content from users in a specific country".

But it said the removed content would be available to the rest of the world. Previously when Twitter deleted a tweet, it would disappear worldwide.

The decision has been criticised by the freedom of information advocacy group Reporters Without Borders.

The move comes at a time when Twitter is in the process of expanding its global business.

In its blog post, Twitter explained that its international growth meant entering countries "that have different ideas about the contours of freedom of expression", citing France or Germany which ban pro-Nazi content as examples.

"Starting today, we give ourselves the ability to reactively withhold content from users in a specific country - while keeping it available in the rest of the world," the company said in a blog post titled Tweets Must Flow.

"We haven't yet used this ability, but if and when we are required to withhold a tweet in a specific country, we will attempt to let the user know, and we will clearly mark when the content has been withheld," it added.

A number of Twitter users have expressed dismay over the move, with some pointing out the adverse impact it would have on free speech, especially outside the US.

I'm sure Ben Ali and Mubarak would have loved this about a year ago.

Kil'jaeden · 01-27-2012, 11:47 AM

Well, using Twitter to communicate about your revolutionary plans is a bad idea.

Bomby · 01-27-2012, 11:51 AM

As long as I can still read Ben Schwartz's Twitter, the website is still serving its purpose.

Kil'jaeden · 01-27-2012, 02:39 PM

Really, I am not sure what to make of this. This sort of thing is nothing new, since certain other Internet companies have helped certain repressive governments censor things. And, it is true that if they want to operate worldwide, they will have to have something like this. Still, the better way would be to not operate in those countries that want a lot of censorship, but they have to go where the greater money is.

01-27-2012, 11:47 AM	#2
Kil'jaeden Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: in your mind Gender: Posts: 2,132 Thanks: 21 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	Well, using Twitter to communicate about your revolutionary plans is a bad idea.

01-27-2012, 11:51 AM	#3
Bomby You just freaking blew Joe Biden's mind! Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: WHAT?house Gender: Posts: 19,491 Thanks: 513 Thanked 1,449 Times in 849 Posts Blog Entries: 5	As long as I can still read Ben Schwartz's Twitter, the website is still serving its purpose.

01-27-2012, 02:39 PM	#4
Kil'jaeden Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: in your mind Gender: Posts: 2,132 Thanks: 21 Thanked 146 Times in 99 Posts	Really, I am not sure what to make of this. This sort of thing is nothing new, since certain other Internet companies have helped certain repressive governments censor things. And, it is true that if they want to operate worldwide, they will have to have something like this. Still, the better way would be to not operate in those countries that want a lot of censorship, but they have to go where the greater money is.