Twitter chief backs ‘painful’ anti-immigration tweets to enrich democracy
Twitter chairman Omid Kordestani has spoken out in favour of ‘painful’ tweets, including many outlining an anti-immigration stance, by arguing that democracy is strengthened by allowing people to post messages which others find upsetting.
Speaking to a Bloomberg technology conference Kordestani said: “How do you personally react to that, it’s painful to read these tweets — that’s our society, you have to have room for all these voices. The discourse is important for democracy; instead of tanks and troops rolling in the streets you have this discussion happening.”
This follows the rise of anti-immigration views being shared on the micro-blogging service, particularly in the midst of a US presidential campaign dominated by Donald Trump’s controversial pronouncements.
Throughout its short life Twitter has sought to establish itself as a bastion of free speech whilst balancing concerns around trolling, harassment and threats, a balance it will seek to maintain as it integrates live video and Periscope.