Twitter will begin identifying government-run media outlets for users on the platform.
The social media giant announced in a blog post on Thursday that it would begin to label publications “where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution” because they can use their coverage “as a means to advance a political agenda.”
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These labels will only go on “state-affiliated” outlets in any countries that are permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. However, Twitter left the door open for the policy to expand more broadly.
The labels will go on the accounts for China Daily, Russia Today, Sputnik, and other media outlets, a Twitter spokesperson told Politico. Twitter will also no longer promote tweets from these outlets through its “recommendation systems.”
The social media platform additionally noted that media outlets that receive federal funding but have complete editorial control, such as National Public Radio and British Broadcasting Corporation, will not be labeled as “state run media.”
Twitter (as well as many other social media platforms) has struggled to find the line between trying to promote accurate news and suppress misinformation. The platform has blocked tweets from President Trump and other high-profile politicians and has faced accusations of censoring conservative opinions.
