Twitter bans ‘dehumanizing’ posts toward religious groups

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Twitter bans ‘dehumanizing’ posts toward religious groups

The Associated Press

July 09, 2019 08:09 AM

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FILE – This April 26, 2017, file photo shows the Twitter app on a mobile phone in Philadelphia. Twitter will now prohibit hate speech that targets religious groups using dehumanizing language. The social network already bans hateful language related to religion when it’s aimed at individuals. The change broadens that rule to forbid language that likens members of religious groups to subhumans or vermin.


Matt Rourke, File

AP Photo


SAN FRANCISCO

Twitter now prohibits hate speech that targets religious groups using dehumanizing language.

The social network already bars hateful language directed at individual religious adherents. Tuesday’s change broadens that rule to forbid likening entire religious groups to subhumans or vermin.

The company has come under fire — along with fellow social media networks such as Facebook and YouTube — for the prevalence of harassment and offensive language on its service.

Twitter’s latest update came after users wrote in thousands of responses when the company asked for suggestions on how to expand its hate speech policies.

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The company says it may also ban similar language aimed at other groups such as those defined by gender, race and sexual orientation.

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