Twitter Safety on Monday announced a feedback period for its upcoming crackdown on “synthetic and manipulated media,” which by Twitter’s definition could range from memes to fake news.
We’re always updating our rules based on how online behaviors change. We're working on a new policy to address synthetic and manipulated media on Twitter – but first we want to hear from you.
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 21, 2019
Trust us, you don’t want to hear from us. You’re gonna do what you’re gonna do anyway.
What’s synthetic and manipulated media?
It’s media that’s been significantly altered or created in a way that changes the original meaning/purpose, or makes it seem like certain events took place that didn’t actually happen.— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 21, 2019
You mean like when that day laborer slowed down video of Nancy Pelosi so she sounded drunk? Good thing the media tracked that guy down and publicized that he’s on probation.
The new policy will address this type of content, specifically when it could threaten someone’s physical safety or lead to offline harm.
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 21, 2019
Why are we doing this?
1️⃣We need to consider how synthetic media is shared on Twitter in potentially damaging contexts.
2️⃣We want to listen and consider your perspectives in our policy development process.
3️⃣We want to be transparent about our approach and values.— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 21, 2019
In the coming weeks, we'll announce a feedback period so that you can help us refine this policy before it goes live. Stay tuned for more!
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 21, 2019
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So, is Hillary Clinton among the first to violate the new terms of service by posting fake letters?
— Huell Babineaux did nothing wrong (@jtLOL) October 21, 2019
I hope you also address instances in which a real (but old) photo is re-used, accompanied by false claims that the photo was taken at a current event.
— No, Mother, it's just the northern lights (@jonriegel) October 21, 2019
Like when someone posts photos of children in cages from 2014 and posts them as contemporary? Or when a verified blue-check journalist like Jose Antonio Vargas crops a photo of a protest and passes it off as a migrant child in a cage separated from his family? Why is this still up?
This is what happens when a government believes people are “illegal.”
Kids in cages. pic.twitter.com/OAnvr9cl3P
— Jose Antonio Vargas (@joseiswriting) June 12, 2018
So no more video of Adam Schiff speaking?
— alterego (@censorfreeacct) October 21, 2019
So you’re banning CNN then?
— Adam Tinsley (@AdamTinsley) October 22, 2019
They do realize that this will impact CNN and MSNBC pretty heavily, right? https://t.co/gfENfekjnr
— Senator Tim Allen (@senator_tim) October 22, 2019
So, a ban of ABC affiliates for showing a gun range in Kentucky to propagandize the American polpulace into calling for the US military to go to war with Turkey? Like THAT kind of "synthetic" and "manipulated" media?
Or just memes? Did Twitter give up on fighting the meme war?
— Ambellina (@Ambellina77) October 21, 2019
@nytimes consistently manipulates events and distorts the news.
Please label them appropriately as unreliable, fiction, or satire. Thanks!
— QuizzicalRepub (@QuizzicalRepub) October 21, 2019
I wonder if this will apply to accounts which claim that events portrayed in the Steele dossier actually happened. https://t.co/EXo4ks5KP5
— Russian Hacker Otter (@Apolocalypses) October 22, 2019
So basically anything funny (that did not actually happen) will be against tos. I think the wording on this could be revamped from a legal standpoint or 90% of twitter content (journalists making things up) will be a no go. Of course selective enforcement will also be an issue.
— Midwestern?? (@MerrittIUfan82) October 21, 2019
Leave the memes alone. Geesh. Social media is supposed to be entertainment. You take away the things that make it entertaining, why even use your platform?
— Dark Hyacinth?? (@DarkHyacinth) October 21, 2019
Don't know about you, but to me this reads like a crackdown on memes… https://t.co/6qQy0zrnUl
— Nebojša Malić (@NebojsaMalic) October 21, 2019
Us too.
is this not the description of a meme? https://t.co/rvCrVthEXL
— Cousin Greg(ory) (@LaTore_) October 22, 2019
So you're going to attempt to interfere in an election by suspending accounts spreading funny stupid memes. Got it.
Jfc there are thousands of videos on Twitter with terrorists murdering and beheading people, but sure going after memers is definitely more important.
URA JOKE https://t.co/VJH4HkiDs9
— jonny hopkins (@mnrube17) October 21, 2019
In other words, @Twitter is going to suspend conservative meme makers, but give cookies to MSM sites that alter or misrepresent videos and pictures. https://t.co/IiqltuECpa
— TJ (@TJ27209483) October 21, 2019
That’s what it’s sounding like to us. Let’s all keep our eyes open during this “feedback period.”
Related:
Ummm … IS THIS REAL?! ABC News appears to have used gun range footage from 2017 claiming it’s current combat in Syria https://t.co/JSJ2H6dlnC
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) October 14, 2019