Twitter axes high-profile white nationalist accounts in hate speech crackdown
Twitter has moved to suspend a number of high-profile accounts administered by individuals belonging to the alt-right movement, a loosely defined term that revolves around white nationalism, as part of a crackdown on hate speech.
Those affected by the purge include a number of accounts associated with Richard Spencer, head of an alt-right think tank, who has stated that he wishes to see the deportation of minorities from the US.
In light of these remarks Twitter has removed his verified main account in addition to an account representing his National Policy Institute think-tank, @npiamerica and online magazine, @radixjournal.
Denouncing the move Spencer likened the actions to a ‘purge’, complaining that Twitter was ‘purging people based on their views’. Justifying the measure Twitter said it would suspend all accounts which exhibited ‘targeted abuse and harrassment’.
It comes after the company cracked down on such abuse by widening the capabilities of its mute button and expanded its discrimination policies.
Twitter, in common with other social media platforms, has been spurred into action by the election of Donald Trump as president amidst concern that they may have indirectly fueled his rise by turning a blind eye to racist comments.
In July, Twitter banned an account belonging to Milo Yiannopolous amidst complaints of coordinated abuse against Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones.