Twitter updated its private information policy on Tuesday, banning photographs and videos of private citizens posted without their consent.
The new rules for “private media” do not require someone’s approval before posting, but if a private citizen wants a photo taken down, Twitter will remove the image.
“When we are notified by individuals depicted, or by an authorized representative, that they did not consent to having their private image or video shared, we will remove it,” Twitter said in an update. “This policy is not applicable to media featuring public figures or individuals when media and accompanying Tweet text are shared in the public interest or add value to public discourse.”
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For celebrities and other public figures, Twitter said it would remove images meant to harass or damage an individual, such as nude pictures. It will also decide to remove an image of a public individual based on whether the photo is accessible in other formats, such as on television.
Images of large crowds at a sporting event or in public places will not require the permission of every person in the shot, Twitter said.
The social media platform already banned the sharing of private information in its anti-doxxing safety policies, including the physical address or location of a private citizen and private contact information such as a phone number or personal email.
Twitter said the new changes will help prevent the misuse of media and protect the identities of “women, activists, dissidents, and members of minority communities.”
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The policy changes come the day after Twitter experienced a major leadership change with the resignation of co-founder and former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Parag Agrawal, the former chief technology officer, became the new CEO Monday.
