Twitter will introduce new labels and warning messages on content it says is providing false or misleading information related to the coronavirus.
“In serving the public conversation, our goal is to make it easy to find credible information on Twitter and to limit the spread of potentially harmful and misleading content,” the social media giant announced on its blog Monday.
The company has taken steps to fact-check content in response to lawmakers and health officials demanding increased scrutiny against misinformation by tech companies during the coronavirus pandemic. In March, it broadened its policy guidance on addressing content going directly against public health guidelines set by the authority of local and world leaders.
Content that may provoke a public health risk or danger can be removed from the social media platform. Twitter has taken down more than 1,100 tweets containing misleading or potentially harmful information since expanding its policy. The company said its automated systems have also challenged more than 1.5 million accounts targeting conversations about coronavirus using spam or manipulative language and behavior.
Twitter will now take steps to use labels and messaging to provide additional explanations or clarifications when the risks of harm associated with a tweet are less severe but the content still prompts confusion or concern.
“This will make it easier to find facts and make informed decisions about what people see on Twitter,” the platform said.
Earlier this year, Twitter authorized a label that read: “Get the facts about COVID-19.” The new labels will link to a Twitter curate page or a trusted external source. The company also laid out a propensity for harm on content. Misleading information will be labeled and removed, disputed claims will be labeled and issued a warning, and unverified claims will prompt no action.
