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'{{Short description|Overview of censorship on Twitter}} {{About|government censorship of Twitter|barring of users by Twitter itself|Twitter suspensions}} '''Censorship of Twitter''' refers to [[Internet censorship]] by governments that block access to [[Twitter]], or censorship by Twitter itself. Twitter censorship also includes governmental [[notice and take down]] requests to Twitter, which Twitter enforces in accordance with its [[Terms of Service]] when a government or authority submits a valid removal request to Twitter indicating that specific content (such as a tweet) is illegal in their jurisdiction. ==Restrictions based on government request== Twitter acts on complaints by third parties, including governments, to remove illegal content in accordance with the laws of the countries in which people use the service. On processing a successful complaint about an illegal tweet from "government officials, companies or another outside party", the social networking site will notify users from that country that they may not see it.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57367843/twitters-censorship-plan-rouses-global-furor/|title=Twitter's censorship plan rouses global furor|date=January 27, 2012|access-date=2012-01-27|agency=[[Associated Press]]|work=CBS News|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128032913/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57367843/twitters-censorship-plan-rouses-global-furor/|archive-date=January 28, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> ===France=== {{main|Internet censorship in France}} Following the posting of an [[Anti-Semitism in 21st century France|antisemitic]] and racist posts by anonymous users, Twitter removed those posts from its service. Lawsuits were filed by the Union of Jewish Students (UEJF), a French advocacy group and, on January 24, 2013, Judge Anne-Marie Sauteraud ordered Twitter to divulge the [[personally identifiable information]] about the user who posted the antisemitic post, charging that the posts violated French laws against [[hate speech]]. Twitter responded by saying that it was "reviewing its options" regarding the French charges. Twitter was given two weeks to comply with the court order before daily fines of €1,000 (about US$1,300) would be assessed. Issues over jurisdiction arise, because Twitter has no offices nor employees within France, so it is unclear how a French court could sanction Twitter.<ref>{{cite news|last=Pfanner|first=Eric|title=In a French Case, a Battle to Unmask Twitter Users|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/technology/twitter-ordered-to-help-reveal-sources-of-anti-semitic-posts.html|access-date=2013-01-26|newspaper=The New York Times|date=January 24, 2013|author2=Somini Sengupta|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126023031/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/25/technology/twitter-ordered-to-help-reveal-sources-of-anti-semitic-posts.html|archive-date=January 26, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=French court rules on hate tweets|url=http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Technology/2013/01/25/French-court-rules-on-hate-tweets/UPI-38951359153077/|access-date=2013-01-26|newspaper=[[UPI]]|date=January 25, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126104115/http://www.upi.com/Science_News/Technology/2013/01/25/French-court-rules-on-hate-tweets/UPI-38951359153077/|archive-date=January 26, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Marchive|first=Valéry|title=Twitter ordered to give up details of racist users|url=http://www.zdnet.com/twitter-ordered-to-give-up-details-of-racist-tweeters-7000010283/|work=ZDNet|access-date=2013-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130128015444/http://www.zdnet.com/twitter-ordered-to-give-up-details-of-racist-tweeters-7000010283/|archive-date=2013-01-28|url-status=live}}</ref> ===India=== {{main|Internet censorship in India}} Twitter accounts spoofing the [[Prime Minister of India]] such as "PM0India", "Indian-pm" and "PMOIndiaa" were blocked in [[India]] in August 2012 following violence in [[Assam]].<ref name="India targets">{{cite news | url= https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19343887 | title= India targets social media sites after Assam violence | publisher= [[bbc.com/news]] | date= August 22, 2012 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171203022528/http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-19343887 | archive-date= December 3, 2017 | url-status= live }}</ref> During the curfew in [[Jammu and Kashmir (union territory)|Jammu and Kashmir]] after [[Indian revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status]] on 5 August 2019, the Indian government approached Twitter to suspend accounts which were spreading rumours and anti-India content.<ref name="HindustanTimes1">{{cite news | url= https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-tells-twitter-to-block-accounts-inciting-anti-india-content-using-kashmir/story-V10neIY9VmgfI8rLB67Y4N.html | title= Govt tells Twitter to block accounts inciting anti-India content using Kashmir | publisher= Hindustan Times | date= August 12, 2019 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190817030848/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/govt-tells-twitter-to-block-accounts-inciting-anti-india-content-using-kashmir/story-V10neIY9VmgfI8rLB67Y4N.html | archive-date= August 17, 2019 | url-status= live }}</ref> This included the Twitter account of [[Syed Ali Shah Geelani]], a Kashmiri separatist leader.<ref>[https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/4-twitter-handles-suspended-for-alleged-anti-india-propaganda/articleshow/70648195.cms Twitter told to take down handles spreading fake news about Kashmir Valley] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190813020448/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/internet/4-twitter-handles-suspended-for-alleged-anti-india-propaganda/articleshow/70648195.cms |date=2019-08-13 }}, The Economic Times (August 13, 2019)</ref> On 3 August 2019, Geelani tweeted "India is about to launch the biggest genocide in the history of mankind",<ref name=sos1>{{cite news |title='India is about to launch the biggest genocide in IOK': Kashmiri leader urges Muslims to 'save our souls' |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/08/03/india-is-about-to-launch-biggest-genocide-in-iok-kashmiri-leader-urges-muslims-to-save-our-souls/ |access-date=16 August 2019 |work=Pakistan Today |date=3 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804154917/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2019/08/03/india-is-about-to-launch-biggest-genocide-in-iok-kashmiri-leader-urges-muslims-to-save-our-souls/ |archive-date=4 August 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> leading which, his account was suspended on request by authorities. Two days later, on August 5, the Indian parliament passed resolution to bifurcate the Jammu and Kashmir state into two union territories. In February 2021 Twitter has blocked several accounts Tweeted in support of the [[2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest|2020–2021 Indian farmers protest]] upon the request by the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/technology/india-twitter.html|title=Twitter Blocks Accounts in India as Modi Pressures Social Media|first=Karan Deep|last=Singh|date=February 10, 2021|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/5935003/india-farmers-protests-twitter/|title=Why Twitter Blocked Accounts Linked to Farmers Protests in India|website=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/twitter-blocks-several-accounts-posting-messages-in-support-of-farmers-stir-restores-most-of-them-later/article33717312.ece|title=Twitter blocks several accounts posting messages in support of farmers’ stir, restores most of them later|first1=Vijaita|last1=Singh|first2=Yuthika|last2=Bhargava|date=February 1, 2021|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> On May 18 a tweet by [[Bhartiya Janata Party]] national spokesperson [[Sambit Patra]] includes pictures of a document that, enlists social media measures used the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] to hurt Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]]’s image during the second wave of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]] has been flagged on Twitter as manipulated media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/twitter-flags-sambit-patras-tweet-on-congress-toolkit-as-manipulated-media/article34611486.ece|title=Twitter flags Sambit Patra’s tweet on Congress ‘toolkit’ as manipulated media|date=May 21, 2021|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> The government asked Twitter to remove the ‘manipulated media’ tag from these tweets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sambit-patra-tweet-manipulated-media-toolkit-twitter-7324737/|title=Twitter marks BJP leader’s post on Cong ‘toolkit’ manipulated; IT Ministry steps in, calls it biased|date=May 22, 2021}}</ref> Upon the refusal of Twitter, The Delhi police have raided the office of Twitter in New Delhi.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/global/twitter-india-offices-raid-bjp-1234980231/|title=Twitter’s India Offices Raided by Delhi Police After Political Tweet|first1=Naman|last1=Ramachandran|first2=Naman|last2=Ramachandran|date=May 24, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/politics/twitter-vs-govt-over-sambit-patra-manipulated-media-tweet|title=‘Manipulated Media’: Twitter Refuses to Blink as Govt Fires Blanks|first=Sushovan|last=Sircar|date=May 24, 2021|website=TheQuint}}</ref> ===Israel=== {{main|Censorship in Israel}} In 2016, access to comments by the American [[blogger]] [[Richard Silverstein]] about a [[criminal investigation]], which involved a minor and therefore was under a [[gag order]] according to Israeli law, was blocked to Israeli [[IP address]]es, following a request by [[Ministry of Justice (Israel)|Israel's Ministry of Justice]].<ref>{{cite news | title = Israeli Censorship on an American Tweet | url = http://www.calcalist.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3695173,00.html | newspaper = [[Calcalist]] (in Hebrew) | date = August 9, 2016 | access-date = 2016-08-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160810170948/http://www.calcalist.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3695173,00.html | archive-date = August 10, 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title = Twitter Agrees To Remove Tweet At Israel's Request | url = http://www.vocativ.com/349919/twitter-agrees-to-censor-tweet-at-israels-request/ | newspaper = [[Vocativ]] | date = August 11, 2016 | access-date = 2016-08-11 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160812164544/http://www.vocativ.com/349919/twitter-agrees-to-censor-tweet-at-israels-request/ | archive-date = August 12, 2016 | url-status = live }}</ref> ===Pakistan=== {{main|Internet censorship in Pakistan}} As of May 2014, Twitter regularly disables the ability to view specific "tweets" inside Pakistan, at the request of the [[Government of Pakistan]] on the grounds that they are [[blasphemy|blasphemous]], having done so five times in that month.<ref>{{cite news|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/world/asia/twitter-agrees-to-block-blasphemous-tweets-in-pakistan.html|date=May 22, 2014|access-date=2017-01-24|title=Twitter Agrees to Block 'Blasphemous' Tweets in Pakistan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170317015326/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/world/asia/twitter-agrees-to-block-blasphemous-tweets-in-pakistan.html|archive-date=March 17, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 25, 2017, the [[NetBlocks]] internet shutdown observatory and [[Digital Rights Foundation]] collected evidence of nation-wide blocking of Twitter alongside other social media services, imposed by the government in response to the religious political party [[2017 Tehreek-e-Labaik protest|Tehreek-e-Labaik protests]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/press-release-drf-and-netblocks-find-blanket-and-nation-wide-ban-on-social-media-in-pakistan-and-demand-it-to-be-lifted-immediately/|title=DRF and NetBlocks find blanket and nation-wide ban on social media in Pakistan and demand it to be lifted immediately|date=November 26, 2017|work=Digital Rights Foundation|access-date=2017-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040815/https://digitalrightsfoundation.pk/press-release-drf-and-netblocks-find-blanket-and-nation-wide-ban-on-social-media-in-pakistan-and-demand-it-to-be-lifted-immediately/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nation.com.pk/27-Nov-2017/activists-assail-blanket-ban-on-social-media|title=Activists assail blanket ban on social media|date=November 27, 2017|work=The Nation|access-date=2017-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128200108/http://nation.com.pk/27-Nov-2017/activists-assail-blanket-ban-on-social-media|archive-date=November 28, 2017|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.samaa.tv/social-buzz/2017/11/need-know-nation-wide-internet-disruptions-dharna/|title=All you need to know about nation-wide internet disruptions during dharna|date=November 27, 2017|website=Samaa TV|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127185835/https://www.samaa.tv/social-buzz/2017/11/need-know-nation-wide-internet-disruptions-dharna/|archive-date=November 27, 2017|url-status=live|access-date=2017-11-29}}</ref> The technical investigation found that all major Pakistani fixed-line and mobile service providers were affected by the restrictions, which were lifted by the PTA the next day when protests abated following the resignation of [[Minister for Law and Justice (Pakistan)|Minister for Law and Justice]] [[Zahid Hamid]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nation.com.pk/26-Nov-2017/the-issue-of-social-media-networking|title=The issue of social media networking|date=November 26, 2017|work=The Nation|access-date=2017-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128200126/http://nation.com.pk/26-Nov-2017/the-issue-of-social-media-networking|archive-date=November 28, 2017|url-status=live|language=en-US}}</ref> ===Russia=== {{main|Censorship in Russia}} On May 19, 2014, Twitter blocked a pro-Ukrainian political account for Russian users. It happened soon after, a Russian official had threatened to ban Twitter entirely if it refused to delete "tweets" that violated Russian law, according to the Russian news site Izvestia.<ref name="ru1">[http://mashable.com/2014/05/19/twitter-blocks-account-russia/ "Twitter Blocks Pro-Ukrainian Political Account for Russian Users"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215054111/https://mashable.com/2014/05/19/twitter-blocks-account-russia/ |date=2018-02-15 }}, Brian RiesMay, Mashable, May 19, 2014.</ref> On July 27, 2014, Twitter blocked an account belonging to a hacker collective that has leaked several internal Kremlin documents to the Internet.<ref name="ru2">[http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/07/27/russia-twitter-hackers-b0ltai-censorship/ "Twitter 'Blocks' Access to Russia's Most Infamous Hackers"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717072218/http://globalvoicesonline.org/2014/07/27/russia-twitter-hackers-b0ltai-censorship/ |date=2015-07-17 }}, Kevin Rothrock, Global Voices Online, July 27, 2014.</ref> On March 10, 2021 Russia's [[Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media]] began [[Bandwidth throttling|throttling]] Twitter on all mobile devices and 50% of computers due to claims that if failed to remove illegal content that encouraging minors to commit suicide, contained child pornography, and drug use, and said that Twitter could be blocked in Russia if it did not comply. In an e-mail statement Twitter stated it was "deeply concerned to throttle online public conversation."<ref>{{Cite news|last=Staff|first=Reuters|date=2021-03-10|title=Twitter says 'deeply concerned' after Russian move|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-twitter-concern-idUSKBN2B22GL|access-date=2021-03-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Russia slows down Twitter in latest social media clampdown|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-slows-down-twitter-social-media-clampdown/|access-date=2021-03-10|website=www.cbsnews.com|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Shead|first=Sam|date=2021-03-10|title=Russia says it is slowing down Twitter to protect citizens from illegal content|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/10/russia-slows-down-twitter-to-protect-citizens.html|access-date=2021-03-10|website=CNBC|language=en}}</ref> In one month from March to April 2021 the communication regulatory board will consider a ban and removal of the IP of Twitter from Russia completely.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Russia will block Twitter in one month unless it deletes banned content - Russian news agencies|url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/russia-will-block-twitter-in-one-month-unless-it-deletes-banned-content-russian-news|url-status=live|website=Nasdaq}}</ref> Roskomnadzor has the necessary “technical capabilities” to completely remove Twitter from Russian domain.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2021-03-16|title=Russia threatens to block Twitter in a month|url=https://www.cbs42.com/news/business/russia-threatens-to-block-twitter-in-a-month/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=CBS 42|language=en-US}}</ref> The action comes at a time when communication and requests between the government agency to the social network has been met with denials and lack of urgency.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rosenbaum|first=Andrew|title=Twitter faces shutdown in Russia unless banned content is deleted {{!}} Cyprus Mail|url=https://cyprus-mail.com/2021/03/16/twitter-faces-shutdown-in-russia-unless-banned-content-is-deleted/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Cyprus Mail|language=en-GB}}</ref> Over 3000 posts containing child pornography and sexual explicit acts in violation of Community Guidelines have been detected by the agency and sent to Twitter. There has been no response or action to maintain the social network's Community Guidelines.<ref name=":0" /> On April 2, 2021 a Russian court found Twitter guilty on three counts of "violating regulations on restricting unlawful content," and ordered Twitter to pay three fines adding up to $117,000.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Klar|first=Rebecca|date=2021-04-02|title=Russia fines Twitter for not removing posts|url=https://thehill.com/policy/technology/546201-russia-fines-twitter-for-not-removing-posts|access-date=2021-04-09|website=TheHill|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Twitter fined by Russian court for not taking down calls to protest|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/twitter-fined-court-russia-not-taking-down-calls-protest-n1262921|access-date=2021-04-09|website=NBC News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Staff|first=Reuters|date=2021-04-02|title=Russian court fines Twitter over failure to delete content|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-russia-politics-social-media-fines-idUSKBN2BP0NZ|access-date=2021-04-09}}</ref> On April 5, 2021 Russia extended it's throttling of Twitter until May 15.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Marrow|first=Tom Balmforth, Alexander|date=2021-04-05|title=Russia extends punitive Twitter slowdown until mid-May|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-russia-twitter-idUKKBN2BS0H0|access-date=2021-04-09}}</ref> ===South Korea=== {{main|Internet censorship in South Korea}} In August 2010, the [[Government of South Korea]] tried to block certain content on Twitter due to the [[North Korean government]] opening a Twitter account.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/20/AR2010082005741.html |title=South Korea tries to block Twitter messages from North |work=Washingtonpost.com |date=August 21, 2010 |access-date=2010-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111203123/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/20/AR2010082005741.html |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> The North Korean Twitter account created on August 12, [https://twitter.com/uriminzok uriminzok], loosely translated to mean "our people" in Korean, acquired over 4,500 followers in less than one week. On August 19, 2010, [[South Korea]]'s state-run Communications Standards Commission banned the Twitter account for broadcasting "illegal information."<ref name="mashable.com">{{cite web |author=Zachary Sniderman |url=http://mashable.com/2010/08/19/north-korea-twitter-banned/ |title=North Korea's Newly Launched Twitter Account Banned by South Korea |publisher=Mashable.com |date=August 19, 2010 |access-date=2010-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824001319/http://mashable.com/2010/08/19/north-korea-twitter-banned/ |archive-date=August 24, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> According to [[BBC]] US and Canada, experts claim that North Korea has invested in "information technology for more than 20 years" with knowledge of how to use [[social networking sites]].<ref name="bbc.co.uk">{{cite news |last=Boyd |first=Clark |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11007825 |title=BBC News – North Korea creates Twitter and YouTube presence |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=August 18, 2010 |access-date=2010-09-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100910180237/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11007825 |archive-date=September 10, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> This appears to be "nothing new" for North Korea as the reclusive country has always published propaganda in its press, usually against South Korea, calling them "warmongers."<ref name="bbc.co.uk" /> With only 36 "tweets", the Twitter account was able to accumulate almost 9,000 followers. To date, the South Korean Commission has banned 65 sites, including this Twitter account.<ref name="mashable.com" /> ===Tanzania=== {{main|Internet censorship and surveillance in Africa}} On October 29, 2020, the ISPs in Tanzania blocked social media in their country during the election week.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.dw.com/en/tanzania-restricts-social-media-during-election/a-55433057|title = Tanzania Restrics Social Media|date = October 29, 2020|access-date=2020-09-20}}</ref> Other social media sites have been unblocked since then, but Twitter remains blocked across all ISPs. ===Turkey=== {{main|Censorship in Turkey}} On April 20, 2014, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, FAZ, reported Twitter had blocked two regime hostile accounts in Turkey, @Bascalan and @Haramzadeler333, both known for pointing out corruption.<ref>{{Cite news|url = http://m.faz.net/aktuell/politik/tuerkei-twitter-sperrt-regierungsfeindliche-konten-12903503.html|title = Twitter sperrt regierungsfeindliche Konten|date = April 20, 2014|access-date=2014-07-12}}</ref> In fact, on March 26, 2014, Twitter announced that it started to use its Country Withheld Content tool for the first time in Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://blog.twitter.com/2014/challenging-the-access-ban-in-turkey|title = Challenging the access ban in Turkey|date = March 26, 2014|access-date = 2014-07-12|website = Twitter Blog|publisher = Twitter|last = Gadde|first = Vijaya|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140712032127/https://blog.twitter.com/2014/challenging-the-access-ban-in-turkey|archive-date = July 12, 2014|url-status = live}}</ref> As of June 2014, Twitter was withholding 14 accounts and "hundreds of tweets" in Turkey.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://www.bianet.org/biamag/diger/156774-twitter-yasaklari-yolsuzluk-dedikodu-ve-biraz-porno|title = Twitter Yasakları: Yolsuzluk, Dedikodu ve Biraz Porno|date = June 28, 2014|access-date = 2014-07-12|website = Bianet|publisher = Bianet|last = Sözeri|first = Efe Kerem|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140714202100/http://www.bianet.org/biamag/diger/156774-twitter-yasaklari-yolsuzluk-dedikodu-ve-biraz-porno|archive-date = July 14, 2014|url-status = live}}</ref> Turkey submitted the highest volume of removal requests to Twitter in 2014,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-twitter/turkey-tops-countries-demanding-content-removal-twitter-idUSKBN0LD1P620150209|title=Turkey tops countries demanding content removal: Twitter|publisher=reuters|date=February 9, 2015|access-date=2015-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924141757/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-turkey-twitter/turkey-tops-countries-demanding-content-removal-twitter-idUSKBN0LD1P620150209|archive-date=September 24, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> 2015,<ref name="Bloomberg L.P">{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/half-of-tweet-removal-requests-come-from-turkey-twitter-says|title=Half of All Requests to Remove Twitter Posts Come From Turkey|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|date=March 22, 2017|access-date=2017-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924140834/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-03-22/half-of-tweet-removal-requests-come-from-turkey-twitter-says|archive-date=September 24, 2017|url-status=live}} ...Turkey accounted for more than half of all content removal requests sent to Twitter during the second half of 2016, a ranking it has topped for three years.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-leads-in-twitter-censorship-2015-8|title=Turkey leads the world in Twitter censorship — and no other country is even close|publisher=businessinsider|date=August 13, 2015|access-date=2015-08-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815203946/http://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-leads-in-twitter-censorship-2015-8|archive-date=August 15, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> 2016,<ref name="Bloomberg L.P" /> 2017<ref name="twitter_2019_report">{{Cite web|url=https://transparency.twitter.com/en/reports/removal-requests.html|title=Removal Requests - Twitter Transparency Center|website=transparency.twitter.com}}</ref> and 2018.<ref name="twitter_2019_report"/> While in 2019 was third.<ref name="twitter_2019_report"/> ===Venezuela=== {{Further|Censorship in Venezuela|2014 Venezuelan protests}} Twitter images were temporarily{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}} blocked in Venezuela in February 2014,<ref name="among-february">{{cite web | url= http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/venezuela-censors-tweets-among-february-protests/#!B9IFw | title= Venezuela censors tweets amid protests, Twitter confirms | last= Knibbs | first= Kate | website= Digital Trends | date= February 17, 2014 | access-date= 2014-03-31 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140407062921/http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/venezuela-censors-tweets-among-february-protests/#!B9IFw | archive-date= April 7, 2014 | url-status= live }}</ref> along with other sites used to share images, including Pastebin.com and [[Zello]], a walkie-talkie app.<ref name="Apps Disrupted">{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303775504579397430033153284 | title=Twitter, Other Apps Disrupted in Venezuela Amid Protests | last=Chao | first=Loretta | newspaper=[[The Wall Street Journal]] | date=February 21, 2014 | access-date=2014-03-31 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150629195712/http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303775504579397430033153284 | archive-date=June 29, 2015 | url-status=live }}</ref> In response to the block, Twitter offered Venezuelan users a workaround to use their accounts via [[text message]] on their mobile phones.<ref name="image blocking">{{cite news | url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/02/14/twitter-image-blocking-venezuela/5497219/ | title= Twitter reports image blocking in Venezuela | agency= [[Associated Press]] | newspaper=[[USA Today]] | date= February 14, 2014 | access-date= 2014-03-31 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171122030356/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/02/14/twitter-image-blocking-venezuela/5497219/ | archive-date= November 22, 2017 | url-status= live }}</ref> On February 27, 2019, internet monitoring group [[NetBlocks]] reported the blocking of Twitter by state-run Internet provider CANTV for a duration of 40 minutes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://netblocks.org/reports/twitter-blocked-in-venezuela-noy9d4B3|title=Twitter blocked in Venezuela|date=February 27, 2019|website=[[NetBlocks]]|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228070156/https://netblocks.org/reports/twitter-blocked-in-venezuela-noy9d4B3|archive-date=February 28, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=2019-02-27}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.caraotadigital.net/nacionales/bloquearon-twitter-venezuela/|title=NetBlocks: "Por primera vez durante la crisis Twitter fue bloqueado en Venezuela"|last=Carballo|first=Betzimar|date=February 27, 2019|website=Caraota Digital|language=es|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307184800/http://www.caraotadigital.net/nacionales/bloquearon-twitter-venezuela/|archive-date=March 7, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The disruption followed the sharing of a tweet made by opposition leader [[Juan Guaidó]] linking to a highly critical recording posted to [[SoundCloud]], which was also restricted access during the incident. The outages were found to be consistent with a pattern of brief, targeted filtering of other social platforms established during the country's [[2019 Venezuelan presidential crisis|presidential crisis]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/venezuela-maduro-social-media-internet-blackout-to-stifle-opposition-2019-1|title=Venezuela's Maduro has been blacking out social media — and sometimes the whole internet — to stifle his US-backed opposition|last=Ma|first=Alexandra|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228065951/https://www.businessinsider.com/venezuela-maduro-social-media-internet-blackout-to-stifle-opposition-2019-1|archive-date=2019-02-28|url-status=live}}</ref> ==Government blocking of Twitter access== In some cases, governments and other authorities take unilateral action to block Internet access to Twitter or its content. {{As of|2019}}, the governments of [[China]], [[Iran]], [[North Korea]], and [[Turkmenistan]] have blocked access to Twitter in those countries. In 2021, the government of [[Nigeria]] has blocked access to Twitter, after Twitter deleted a controversial tweet by the country's president [[Muhammadu Buhari]] ===China=== {{main|Internet censorship in China}} Twitter is [[Internet censorship in the People's Republic of China|officially blocked in China]]; however, many Chinese people circumvent the block to use it.<ref name="Bamman">{{cite journal|last1=Bamman|first1=D.|last2=O'Connor|first2=B.|last3=Smith|first3=N.|date=March 5, 2012|title=Censorship and deletion practices in Chinese social media|url=http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3943/3169|journal=First Monday|publisher=University of Illinois at Chicago|volume=17|issue=3|doi=10.5210/fm.v17i3.3943|access-date=2013-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211215604/http://journals.uic.edu/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/3943/3169|archive-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Even major Chinese companies and national medias, such as [[Huawei]] and [[China Central Television|CCTV]], use Twitter through a government approved [[VPN]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/CCTV|title=CCTV (@CCTV) {{!}} Twitter|website=twitter.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191001095124/https://twitter.com/CCTV|archive-date=2019-10-01|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Huawei|title=Huawei (@Huawei) {{!}} Twitter|website=twitter.com|language=en|access-date=2019-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811070818/https://twitter.com/Huawei|archive-date=2019-08-11|url-status=live}}</ref> The official account of [[China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs]] started tweeting in English in December 2019, meanwhile dozens of Chinese diplomats, embassies and consulates run their accounts on Twitter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50832915|title=China and Twitter: The year China got louder on social media|work=BBC News|date=29 December 2019|first=Zhaoyin|last= Feng}}</ref> In 2010, [[Cheng Jianping]] was sentenced to one year in a labor camp for "retweeting" a comment that suggested boycotters of Japanese products should instead attack the Japanese pavilion at the [[2010 Shanghai Expo]]. Her fiancé, who posted the initial comment, claims it was actually a satire of [[anti-Japanese sentiment in China]].<ref name="nydailynewscom">{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/11/18/2010-11-18_chinese_woman_cheng_jianping_sentenced_to_a_year_in_labor_camp_over_twitter_post.html|title=Chinese woman, Cheng Jianping, sentenced to a year in labor camp over Twitter post|last=Shahid|first=Aliyah|date=November 18, 2010|newspaper=[[New York Daily News]]|access-date=January 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121051632/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/11/18/2010-11-18_chinese_woman_cheng_jianping_sentenced_to_a_year_in_labor_camp_over_twitter_post.html|archive-date=November 21, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the report of ''the Washington Post'', in 2019, state security officials visited some users in China to request them deleting tweets.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shih |first1=Gerry |title=Chinese censors go old school to clamp down on Twitter: A knock on the door |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/chinese-censors-go-old-school-to-clamp-down-on-twitter-a-knock-on-the-door/2019/01/04/1bd462e4-f331-11e8-9240-e8028a62c722_story.html |access-date=6 January 2020 |work=The Washington Post |date=January 4, 2019}}</ref> The Chinese police would produce printouts of tweets and advise users to delete either the specific messages or their entire accounts. The New York Times described "the crackdown (of the twitter users in China) is unusually broad and punitive". The targets of the crackdown even included those Twitter lurkers with very few followers.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mozur |first1=Paul |title=Twitter Users in China Face Detention and Threats in New Beijing Crackdown |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/10/business/china-twitter-censorship-online.html |access-date=6 January 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=10 January 2019}}</ref> In 2019, a Chinese student at the [[University of Minnesota]] was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison when he returned to China, for posting tweets mocking Chinese [[paramount leader]] [[Xi Jinping]] while in US.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allen-Ebrahimian |first1=Bethany |title=University of Minnesota student jailed in China over tweets |url=https://www.axios.com/china-arrests-university-minnesota-twitter-e495cf47-d895-4014-9ac8-8dc76aa6004d.html |access-date=31 January 2020 |work=Axios |date=23 January 2020}}</ref> On 3 July 2020, Twitter announced that all data and information requests for Hong Kong authorities were immediately paused after [[Hong Kong national security law]], which was imposed by the Chinese government, went into effect.<ref>{{cite web |last1= Manfredi |first1= Lucas | title= Facebook, Twitter pause data requests from Hong Kong authorities over controversial security law |url= https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/facebook-twitter-pause-data-requests-from-hong-kong-authorities-over-controversial-security-law|access-date=14 August 2020 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200815045302/https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/facebook-twitter-pause-data-requests-from-hong-kong-authorities-over-controversial-security-law| archive-date=14 August 2020}}</ref> According to the official verdicts as of 2020, hundreds of Chinese were sentenced to prison due to their tweeting, retweeting and liking on Twitter.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dahai |first1=Han |title= Chinese Authorities Punish Citizens for Using Foreign Social Media |url=https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/voa-news-china/chinese-authorities-punish-citizens-using-foreign-social-media |access-date=13 November 2020 |work=VOA |date=November 10, 2020}}</ref> ===Egypt (2011 temporary block)=== {{See also |Internet censorship in Egypt#2011 Internet shutdown}} Twitter was inaccessible in [[Egypt]] on January 25, 2011 during the [[2011 Egyptian protests]]. Some news reports blamed the [[government of Egypt]] for blocking it.<ref name="Dan Murphy 0125">{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2011/0125/Inspired-by-Tunisia-Egypt-s-protests-appear-unprecedented|title=Inspired by Tunisia, Egypt's protests appear unprecedented|last=Murphy|first=Dan|date=January 25, 2011|newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=January 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110222063503/http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Backchannels/2011/0125/Inspired-by-Tunisia-Egypt-s-protests-appear-unprecedented|archive-date=February 22, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vodafone Egypt]], Egypt's largest mobile network operator, denied responsibility for the action in a tweet.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/VodafoneEgypt/statuses/29927017323433984|title=We didn't block twitter...|author=@VodafoneEgypt|author-link=Vodafone Egypt|date=January 25, 2011|publisher=Twitter|access-date=January 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305032749/https://twitter.com/VodafoneEgypt/statuses/29927017323433984|archive-date=March 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Twitter's news releases did not state who the company believed instituted the block.<ref name="Alex Sherman">{{cite journal|last=Sherman|first=Alex|date=January 26, 2011|title=Twitter Says Access to Service in Egypt Is Blocked|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-26/twitter-says-access-to-service-in-egypt-is-blocked.html|journal=[[Business Week]]|access-date=January 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129225609/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-01-26/twitter-says-access-to-service-in-egypt-is-blocked.html|archive-date=January 29, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> As of January 26, Twitter was still confirming that the service was blocked in Egypt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/twitterglobalpr/status/30377205695647744|title=Twitter Comms: Egypt continues to block Twitter...|author=@TwitterGlobalPR|date=January 26, 2011|publisher=Twitter}}</ref> On January 27, various reports claimed that access to the entire Internet from within Egypt had been shut down.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/27/egypt-internet-goes-down-_n_815156.html|title=Egypt's Internet Shut Down, According To Reports|last=Kanalley|first=Craig|date=January 27, 2011|work=Huffington Post|access-date=July 10, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129005406/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/27/egypt-internet-goes-down-_n_815156.html|archive-date=January 29, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly after the Internet shutdown, engineers at [[Google]], [[Twitter]], and SayNow, a voice-messaging startup company acquired by Google in January, announced the [[Speak To Tweet]] service. Google stated in its official blog that the goal of the service was to assist Egyptian protesters in staying connected during the Internet shutdown.<ref name="Google Blog">{{cite web|url=http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/some-weekend-work-that-will-hopefully.html|title=Some weekend work that will (hopefully allow more Egyptians to be heard.|last=Singh|first=Ujjwal|access-date=2011-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503002907/http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/some-weekend-work-that-will-hopefully.html|archive-date=2011-05-03|url-status=live}}</ref> Users could phone in a "tweet" by leaving a voicemail and use the Twitter hashtag #Egypt. These comments could be accessed without an Internet connection by dialing the same designated phone numbers. Those with Internet access could listen to the comments by visiting twitter.com/speak2tweet. On February 2, 2011, connectivity was re-established by the four main Egyptian service providers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12346929|title=Egypt internet comes back online|date=February 2, 2011|website=BBC News|access-date=June 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401155011/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-12346929|archive-date=April 1, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://asert.arbornetworks.com/2011/02/egypt-returns-to-the-internet/|title=Egypt Returns to the Internet|last=Labovitz|first=Craig|date=February 2, 2011|website=Arbor Networks|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111025112723/http://asert.arbornetworks.com/2011/02/egypt-returns-to-the-internet/|archive-date=2011-10-25|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.renesys.com/blog/2011/02/egypt-returns-to-the-internet.shtml|title=Egypt Returns To The Internet|last=Cowie|first=James|date=February 2, 2011|website=Renesys|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205190100/http://www.renesys.com/blog/2011/02/egypt-returns-to-the-internet.shtml#|archive-date=2011-02-05|url-status=dead|access-date=2012-07-10}}</ref> A week later, the heavy filtering that occurred at the height of the revolution had ended. ===Iran=== {{main|Internet censorship in Iran}} In 2009, during [[2009 Iranian presidential election]], the Iranian government blocked Twitter due to fear of protests being organised.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=anh.uW3gNZp4|title=Iran Blocks Facebook, Twitter Sites Before Elections (Update1)|date=May 23, 2009|work=Bloomberg|access-date=March 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924183021/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=anh.uW3gNZp4|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2013, the blocking of both Twitter and Facebook was briefly lifted without notice due to a technical error, however, within a day the sites were blocked again.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2013/09/16/twitter-facebook-iran/|title=Iran Unblocks Facebook and Twitter|last=Taylor|first=Chris|date=September 17, 2013|website=[[Mashable]]|access-date=2013-09-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829214714/http://mashable.com/2013/09/16/twitter-facebook-iran/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Nigeria (Indefinite period)=== The [[Nigerian government]] said in a statement on Friday 4th June 2021 that it had suspended Twitter activities in Nigeria.<ref name="guardian-4jun2021">{{cite news |title=Nigeria suspends Twitter after president’s tweet was deleted |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/04/nigeria-suspends-twitter-after-presidents-tweet-was-deleted |access-date=4 June 2021 |work=[[The Guardian]] |agency=[[Reuters]] |date=4 June 2021}}</ref> The suspension followed Twitter's decision to delete tweets and videos that violated the company's rules from President [[Muhammadu Buhari]] in which he threatened retaliatory action against the Eastern Security Network (ESN), a regional, pro-[[Biafra|Biafran]] secessionist group allegedly responsible for attacks on government structures, police and military personnel in Nigeria.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Omonobi|first=Kingsley|date=5 April 2021|title=Imo JailBreak: IPOB, ESN behind attacks — IGP Mohammed|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/04/imo-jailbreak-ipob-esn-behind-attacks-igp-mohammed/|access-date=5 June 2021|website=Vanguard|language=en-GB}}</ref>The government claimed that the microblogging platform was being used to "undermine the corporate existence of the country." Ironically, the ban was announced via the official Twitter handle of the country's Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. <ref>{{Cite web|title=https://twitter.com/fmicnigeria/status/1400843062641717249|url=https://twitter.com/fmicnigeria/status/1400843062641717249|access-date=2021-06-05|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> By the morning of Saturday 5th June, internet service providers in Nigeria barred users' access to Twitter. [[MTN Nigeria]] were the first to comply with the directive. However, Nigerians resorted to using [[Virtual private network|VPN]] to access the platform. Most notably, the big-eyed media aide to Governor [[Babajide Sanwo-Olu|Babajide Sanwoolu]], Jubril Gawat was still using the platform as of 01:00 PM Nigerian time on Saturday.<ref>{{Cite web|title=https://twitter.com/mr_jags/status/1401129556950589440|url=https://twitter.com/mr_jags/status/1401129556950589440|access-date=2021-06-05|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref> Later in the day, the country's Attorney General, Abubakar Malami ordered the prosecution of any Nigerian found using the platform through the backdoor.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-05|title=Malami orders prosecution of Twitter ban violators|url=https://www.thecable.ng/just-in-malami-orders-prosecution-of-twitter-ban-violators|access-date=2021-06-05|website=TheCable|language=en-US}}</ref> The move is another in a long list of illegalities perpetrated by Malami that hails from the Muslim-majority northern part of the country. Earlier, the Attorney General had asked the president in a leaked memo to suspend the constitution and enforce martial law across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-02|title=EXCLUSIVE: In secret memo, AGF Malami asks Buhari to suspend Nigerian Constitution, declare martial law|url=https://gazettengr.com/exclusive-in-secret-memo-agf-malami-asks-buhari-to-suspend-nigerian-constitution-declare-martial-law/|access-date=2021-06-05|website=Peoples Gazette|language=en-US}}</ref> ===North Korea=== {{main|Internet in North Korea}} In April 2016, North Korea started to block Twitter "in a move underscoring its concern with the spread of online information".<ref name="NK">{{Cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2616449/north-korea-blacks-facebook-twitter-and-youtube/|title=North Korea blocks Facebook, Twitter and YouTube|date=April 4, 2016|publisher=Global News|agency=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=2016-04-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406095746/http://globalnews.ca/news/2616449/north-korea-blacks-facebook-twitter-and-youtube/|archive-date=April 6, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Anyone who tries to access it without special permission from the North Korean government, including foreign visitors and residents, is subject to punishment.<ref name="NK" /> ===Turkey (2014 temporary block)=== {{main|Censorship in Turkey}} On March 21, 2014, access to Twitter in Turkey was temporarily blocked, after a court ordered that "protection measures" be applied to the service. This followed earlier remarks by Prime Minister [[Tayyip Erdogan]] who vowed to "wipe out Twitter" following damaging allegations of [[2013 corruption scandal in Turkey|corruption in his inner circle]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26677134 "Twitter website 'blocked' in Turkey"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316182729/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26677134 |date=2018-03-16 }}, ''BBC News'', March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 23, 2014.</ref> However, on March 27, 2014, Istanbul Anatolia 18th Criminal Court of Peace suspended the above-mentioned court order. Turkey's constitutional court later ruled that the ban is illegal.<ref name="Turkey Twitter">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26849941|title=Turkey Twitter ban: Constitutional court rules illegal|date=April 2, 2014|access-date=2014-04-02|publisher=[[bbc.com/news]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404164811/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26849941|archive-date=April 4, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Two weeks after the Turkish government blocked the site, the Twitter ban was lifted.<ref name="BBCtrending">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-2687622|title=#BBCtrending: Turkey's Twitter block 'lifted'|date=April 3, 2014|access-date=2014-04-03|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> However, {{as of|2017|lc=yes}}, Twitter reports that the government of Turkey accounts for more than 52 percent of all content removal requests worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://transparency.twitter.com/en/countries/tr.html|title=Transparency Reports, Turkey|author=Twitter|year=2017|website=Twitter|access-date=2018-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621193855/https://transparency.twitter.com/en/countries/tr.html|archive-date=2018-06-21|url-status=live}}</ref> ===Turkmenistan=== {{As of|2018}}, foreign news and opposition websites are blocked in [[Turkmenistan]], and international social networks such as Twitter are "often inaccessible".<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16094646|title=Turkmenistan country profile|author=BBC Monitoring|year=2018|website=BBC News|access-date=February 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225074838/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16094646|archive-date=February 25, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ===United Kingdom (2011 threat of temporary block)=== {{Main|Internet censorship in the United Kingdom}} Then-Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] threatened to shut down Twitter among other social networking sites for the duration of the [[2011 England riots]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/Riots-David-Cameron-threatens-Twitter.6817157.jp|title=Riots: David Cameron threatens Twitter 'shut down'|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=2013-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006235948/http://www.scotsman.com/news/Riots-David-Cameron-threatens-Twitter.6817157.jp|archive-date=2011-10-06|url-status=live}}</ref> but no action was taken. ==Suspending and restricting users== {{Main|Deplatforming|Twitter suspensions}} Under Twitter's [[Terms of Service]] which requiring users agreement, Twitter retains the right to temporarily or permanently suspend user accounts based on violations.<ref name="Holt">{{cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/twitter-politics-report-spam-user-ban/|title=Dirty digital politics: How users manipulate Twitter to silence foes|last=Holt|first=Kris|date=June 12, 2012|website=The Daily Dot|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181212081305/https://www.dailydot.com/layer8/twitter-politics-report-spam-user-ban/|archive-date=2018-12-12|url-status=live}}</ref> One such example took place on December 18, 2017, when it banned the accounts belonging to [[Paul Golding]], [[Jayda Fransen]], [[Britain First]], and the [[Traditionalist Worker Party]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}. [[Donald Trump]], the former [[President of the United States]], has faced a limited degree of censorship in 2019, and following the [[2021 storming of the United States Capitol]] has been completely suspended on January 8, 2021 according to an interpretation of two tweets by moderation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://loomered.com/2019/12/17/twitter-suspends-account-retweeted-by-president-trump/|title=Twitter Suspends Account Retweeted By President Trump |date=December 17, 2019|website=Loomered}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/recode/2019/6/27/18761360/donald-trump-twitter-policy-censorship-rules|title=Twitter won't censor Trump's rule-breaking tweets, but it will make them harder to find|first=Theodore|last=Schleifer|date=June 27, 2019|website=Vox}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Trump|first=Donald|date=January 8, 2021|title=Donald Trump's twitter page|url=https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=January 8, 2021|website=[[Twitter]]}}</ref> Trump has used the platform extensively as a means of communication, and has escalated tensions with other nations through his tweets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-trump-and-iran-trolling-on-twitter-helped-escalate-tensions-on-the-battlefield/2020/01/09/04e81552-32f6-11ea-a053-dc6d944ba776_story.html|title=For Trump and Iran, trolling on Twitter helped escalate tensions on the battlefield|first=David|last=Nakamura|via=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref> On January 8, 2021 at 6:21 EST, Twitter permanently suspended Trump's personal Twitter account.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-09|title=Twitter permanently suspends Trump's account|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-55597840|access-date=2021-01-09}}</ref> The President then posted four status updates on the POTUS Twitter account which were subsequently removed. Twitter said they would not suspend government accounts, but will "instead take action to limit their use."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Business|first=Brian Fung, CNN|title=Twitter bans President Trump permanently|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/08/tech/trump-twitter-ban/index.html|access-date=2021-01-09|website=CNN}}</ref> Twitter's policies have been described as subject to manipulation by users who may coordinate to flag politically controversial tweets as allegedly violating the platform's policies, resulting in [[deplatforming]] of controversial users.<ref name="Holt" /> The platform has long been criticized for its failure to provide details of underlying alleged policy violations to the subjects of [[Twitter suspensions]] and bans.<ref name="Ohlheiser">{{cite news|url=https://www.thespec.com/news-story/6778843-here-s-what-it-takes-to-get-banned-from-twitter/|title=Here's what it takes to get banned from Twitter|last=Ohlheiser|first=Abby|date=July 22, 2016|newspaper=Hamilton Spectator|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107013042/https://www.thespec.com/news-story/6778843-here-s-what-it-takes-to-get-banned-from-twitter/|archive-date=2017-11-07|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, Twitter rolled out a "quality filter" that hid content and users deemed "low quality" from search results and limited their visibility, leading to accusations of [[shadow banning]]. After conservatives claimed it censors users from the political right, Alex Thompson, a writer for ''[[Vice Media|VICE]]'', confirmed that many prominent [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] politicians had been "shadow banned" by the filter.<ref name="Thompson">{{Cite news|url=https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/vbj7w3/twitter-appears-to-have-fixed-search-problems-that-lowered-visibility-of-gop-lawmakers|title=Twitter appears to have fixed search problems that lowered visibility of GOP lawmakers|last=Thompson|first=Alex|date=July 26, 2018|work=VICE News|access-date=2018-08-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180802090605/https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/vbj7w3/twitter-appears-to-have-fixed-search-problems-that-lowered-visibility-of-gop-lawmakers|archive-date=August 2, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Twitter later acknowledged the problem, stating that the filter had a [[software bug]] that would be fixed in the near future.<ref name="Thompson" /> In October 2020, Twitter prevented users from tweeting about a ''[[New York Post]]'' article about the [[Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory]], relating to emails about [[Hunter Biden]] allegedly introducing a Ukrainian businessman to his father, [[Joe Biden]].<ref name="nyphunterbiden">{{cite news|last1=Mihalcik|first1=Carrie|last2=Wong|first2=Queenie|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-twitter-limit-reach-of-new-york-post-article-about-hunter-biden/|title=Facebook, Twitter limit reach of New York Post article about Hunter Biden|date=October 14, 2020|newspaper=CNET}}</ref> Senators [[Marsha Blackburn]] and [[Ted Cruz]] described the blocking of the ''New York Post'' on Twitter as "election interference".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/15/technology/facebook-twitter-republicans-backlash.html|title=Twitter Changes Course After Republicans Claim 'Election Interference'|last1= Isaac|first1=Mike|last2=Conger|first2=Kate|work=The New York Times|date=October 22, 2020|orig-date=October 15, 2020|access-date=January 9, 2021}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Deplatforming]] * [[Shadow banning]] * [[Twitter suspensions]] ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} {{Censorship and websites}} {{Twitter navbox}} {{Internet censorship circumvention technologies}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Censorship Of Twitter}} [[Category:Twitter controversies| ]] [[Category:Internet censorship|Twitter]] [[Category:Internet censorship by organization|Twitter]]'