Images or videos of private individuals shared without their consent are now against Twitter’s policy and can be removed upon request, according to the company.
The new restriction is an outgrowth of policies against “doxxing,” or the unauthorized publication of private information such as house addresses.
Critics argue that the rule is overbroad and might be “used to suppress free expression on the platform.”
However, Twitter stated that it will take into account the context in which photographs were uploaded.
For example, if an image was publicly available on news websites or “whether a particular image and the accompanying tweet text contributes value to the public discourse, is being shared in the public interest, or is important to the community” would be considered.
Before removing photographs or taking action, Twitter stated it needs to be alerted by “individuals who did not consent to having their private image shared publicly.”
