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Twitter Updates Election Misinformation Policy Ahead of US Presidential Election

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the US presidential election approaches, Twitter is taking steps to combat misinformation by updating its policy on election-related tweets. The platform will now exempt official news organizations' tweets from labels about election results, but will continue to flag and warn users about potentially misleading information. Additionally, Twitter will prioritize the presidential election and other highly contested races, where there may be significant issues with misleading information.

Key Takeaways:

  • Twitter has updated its policy on election-related tweets to exempt official news organizations' tweets from labels about election results.
  • The platform will continue to flag and warn users about potentially misleading information, including tweets that prematurely claim victory.
  • Twitter will prioritize the presidential election and other highly contested races, where there may be significant issues with misleading information.
  • Accounts belonging to 2020 candidates, with more than 100,000 followers, and having significant engagement (25,000 likes or quote tweets/retweets) will be labeled.
  • Twitter will only allow users to quote tweet tweets labeled as "disputed" or "sensitive."
  • The company will require users to tap through a warning to see these tweets, which will have limited functionality.
  • Official Twitter accounts of national news organizations, including ABC News, The Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Decision Desk HQ, Fox News, and NBC News, will be exempt from labels about election results.
  • President Donald Trump's campaign has accused Twitter of trying to interfere with his messaging.

Statistics:

  • Twitter has defined "significant engagement" as 25,000 likes or 25,000 quote tweets/retweets.
  • The platform will prioritize the presidential election and other highly contested races, where there may be significant issues with misleading information.
  • Accounts belonging to 2020 candidates, with more than 100,000 followers, and having significant engagement will be labeled.
  • Twitter has exempted official Twitter accounts of national news organizations, including ABC News, The Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, Decision Desk HQ, Fox News, and NBC News, from labels about election results.

Sources:

  • Axios
  • Twitter statement on election misinformation policy

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