Twitter has announced that it had permanently suspended the account of outgoing President Donald Trump due to ”risk of further incitement of violence,” three days after his supporters stormed the US Capitol and five people died in the violence.
In a statement on Friday, Twitter said, “After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.”
Reaction
After Twitter had permanently suspended his @realDonaldTrump account, Mr Trump tweeted from the US president’s official @Potus account suggesting he would “look at the possibilities of building out our own platform in the future” and railing against Twitter.
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But the tweets were removed from the platform as soon as they were posted.
The ban on Trump’s social media accounts was also condemned by many in leaders in India.
Is it right for social media companies to ban its users?
Ban on President Trump has garnered mixed reactions from across the world. Twitter claims that it was because the user “expressly and principally promotes, advocates, or incites hatred or violence against a group or individual based on characteristics”
As we live in an era where majority of our news and information come from these powerful sources, and if they collectively have the power to determine what’s acceptable to say and what’s not acceptable to say, it could create chaos, or limit the possibilities for free speech down the line.
Also, these platforms especially Twitter has been accused of being partial. These platforms have been enablers of hate, fake news and continue to be so in different parts of the world but they very rarely ban such users. Earlier, twitter was accused of promoting conspiracy theories but twitter released a statement and blamed it on the algorithms.
Other leaders, Celebrities blocked by Twitter
Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn and pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell accounts were banned by twitter following the storming of the US Capitol by a mob of violent Trump supporters
Singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya’s account was suspended in May 2017 after he posted a string of “offensive” tweets, especially against women.
US president’s eldest son Donald Trump Jr twitter account was blocked after he posted a video clip discussing the benefits of hydroxychloroquine.
Rapper Azealia Banks was suspended from Twitter in May 2016 after a series of racially charged tweets attacking singer Zayn Malik
Pewdiepie, famous YouTuber was suspended in 2016 for jokingly saying that he and another user have joined the terror group ISIS.
Actor director, KRK was banned after he had reportedly revealed the climax of Zaira Wasim starrer and Aamir Khan’s Secret Superstar.
Kangana Ranaut’s sister Rangoli Chandel’s twitter account was suspended in April after she posted controversial tweets regarding the Moradabad stone pelting incident.
Katie Hopkins was permanently barred from the platform for violating its rules on hateful conduct
