Twitter stops enforcing Covid-19 misinformation policy

At the same time, several senior executives overseeing content moderation policies and their enforcement, including former Twitter trust and safety manager Yoel Roth, left the company.

On Capitol Hill, Democrats lambasted the decision. “Misinformation is more than dangerous, it is potentially deadly for many people who may be unable to see through much of the misinformation that is circulating,” the senator said. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told reporters Tuesday.

And medical professionals have also said the move could harm people. “Previously, not enough was being done to eradicate medical misinformation on social media; but this step, along with reframing voices wishing to confuse and increase distrust of medicine, will do more harm,” said Jack Resneck Jr., president of the American Medical Association, in a statement. communicated. He also urged patients to seek accurate medical information, including from their own doctors.

Although Twitter never officially announced the change, Twitter users noticed the policy update Monday night, and it was first reported by CNN. It appears to be part of Musk’s plans to grant a « blanket amnesty » to previously banned accounts – like that of former President Donald Trump – and the tech billionaire said he was updating policies this week that would restore more accounts.

This could mean all 11,230 accounts have been suspended since Twitter’s Covid-19 misinformation policy took effect early 2020 could soon be or are being reinstated. One of the biggest repeat offenders was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), whose personal account was reinstated last week after being suspended for repeatedly violating Twitter’s policy against spreading false information about Covid-19.