Twitter announced last week that it
would block users engaged in homophobic and transphobic abuse.
In a blog post titled Fighting abuse
to protect freedom of expression, Twitter Trust + Safety Director
Megan Cristina announced the changes to Twitter Rules.
“Today, as part of our continued
efforts to combat abuse, we're updating the Twitter Rules to clarify
what we consider to be abusive behavior and hateful conduct,” she
wrote. “The updated language emphasizes that Twitter will not
tolerate behavior intended to harass, intimidate or use fear to
silence another user's voice. As always, we embrace and encourage
diverse opinions and beliefs – but we will continue to take action
on accounts that cross the line into abuse.”
Twitter Rules now explicitly ban users
from participating in “hateful conduct,” which includes
homophobic and transphobic language.
“You may not promote violence against
or directly attack or threaten other people on the basis of race,
ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender
identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease. We also
do not allow accounts whose primary purpose is inciting harm towards
others on the basis of these categories,” the
rules state.
Twitter said that it may permanently
suspend accounts that fail to abide by its rules.