Tech
TERROR PROMOTION: Twitter blocks over half a million accounts
Social media giant Twitter has revealed that it has suspended the accounts of 636,248 users on its platform as the company steps up efforts to counter “promotion of terrorism” around the world.
Twitter says it started blocking accounts since the middle of 2015 even as transparency report also says number of user-data requests by governments rose 7 per cent from prior six-month period.
In its latest transparency report published on Tuesday, the company said 376,890 accounts were shut down in the last six months of 2016.
Read also: Apple plans $500m for new research centres in China
The move comes as social networks are under pressure from governments around the world to use technology tools to lock out individuals promoting religious violence, and others who use the platforms to recruit and launch attacks.
The microblogging platform also announced the FBI had informed the company it was no longer under a “gag order” that prevented the disclosure of cases involving “national security letters” – special requests from the US law enforcement agency in national security cases.
As a result, Twitter was able to inform the affected users of the FBI requests.
“As we continue to push for more transparency in how we can speak about national security requests, we will update this new section in future transparency reports,” Twitter said.
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