Trump’s latest tweets about the coronavirus lockdown protests are another test for Twitter and Facebook.
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Twitter said Friday that President Donald Trump’s tweets, which call for the liberation of three states where people protest coronavirus blocking, do not violate the content rules that pose a risk to human health could.
Under the new guidance that Twitter released in March, the company said it would primarily fetch content that “contained a clear call to action that could directly pose a risk to human health or well-being.” While Trump’s tweets seem to support protests against blocking measures, Twitter said Trump’s statements are vague and unclear. The move highlights another gap that could allow politicians and others to circumvent Twitter’s rules against harmful corona virus content.
In the series of tweets, Trump says “LIBERATE MINNESOTA”, “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” and “LIBERATE VIRGINIA and save your great 2nd change. It is under siege!”
LIBERATE MINNESOTA!
– Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020
This week, demonstrators in Michigan drove thousands of vehicles to the state capital to protest the order to stay at home. The Detroit Free Press reported. On Friday, at least 400 people gathered in front of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz’s house in St. Paul to protest the state’s order to stay at home, and many did not practice social distancing or did not wear masks Associated Press reported.
Trump’s tweets have sparked criticism from democratic politicians, including Washington Governor Jay Inslee, who says the president’s statements endanger people’s health.
The President’s statements this morning encourage illegal and dangerous acts. It threatens millions of people to become infected with COVID-19.
His awkward abuse and calls to people to “liberate” states could also lead to violence. We have seen it before. 1/7
– Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) April 17, 2020
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump’s calls for the liberation of certain states have also been published on Facebook and remain on the social network. Facebook did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Twitter has taken action against coronavirus content released by politicians before it can cause harm. In March, the company removed two tweets from Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro This reportedly included videos of the politician questioning social detachment and quarantine measures. The company deleted a tweet from Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro for recommending the use of a “natural concoction” as a potential cure for the coronavirus. And Twitter removed a tweet from Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal lawyer who quoted conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who falsely claimed that “hydroxychloroquine has been shown to have a 100% effective rate in the treatment of COVID-19”.
Nevertheless, some tweets from high-profile personalities remain on the website. Elon Musk, CEO and co-founder of Tesla, tweeted that “children are essentially immune to COVID-19,” even though children can become infected with the virus. Twitter left Musk’s tweet and said it was because the tweet wasn’t “final,” Axios reported.
It is important to combat misinformation from celebrities and politicians, as their social media posts can spread faster than other users. In April a study of the Oxford University and the Reuters Institute found that misinformation from politicians, celebrities, and other public figures accounted for 69% of social media engagement, although it was only a small part of the sample investigated. Twitter seemed to lag behind other social media platforms like Facebook and YouTube when it came to content review. Approximately 59% of posts judged incorrect by fact checkers stayed on Twitter.
Look at that:
This could stop contact tracking COVID-19
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