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'{{Short description|none}} {{About|government censorship of Twitter|barring of users by Twitter itself|Twitter suspensions}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} '''Censorship of Twitter''' refers to [[Internet censorship]] by governments that block access to [[Twitter]]. 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. ==Censorship on Twitter== ===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 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 blocked hundreds of accounts that were posting about the [[2020–2021 Indian farmers' protest|Indian farmers protest]] from being accessed by users in India, by request of the [[Ministry of Home Affairs (India)|Ministry of Home Affairs]]; the government ministry alleged that the accounts were spreading misinformation.<ref>{{Cite news|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| newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 10, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5935003/india-farmers-protests-twitter/|title=Why Twitter Blocked Accounts Linked to Farmers Protests in India|magazine=Time}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|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| newspaper=The Hindu |date=February 1, 2021|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Later that month, Twitter became subject to the national ''Social Media Ethics Code'', which expects all social media companies operating in the country to remove content by request of the government within 36 hours, and appoint a local representative who is an Indian resident and passport holder<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ramachandran|first=Naman|date=2021-02-25|title=India Publishes 'Digital Media Ethics Code' for Social Media and Streaming Platforms|url=https://variety.com/2021/streaming/news/india-digital-media-ethics-code-social-media-streaming-platforms-1234914981/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> On May 18, 2021, [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] national spokesperson [[Sambit Patra]] posted an image alleged to be from an internal [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) document, detailing a social media campaign against Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] to criticize his handling of the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India]]. The INC disputed the posts and claimed that they were fabricated. Twitter subsequently marked the post as containing manipulated media.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2021-05-22|title=Twitter marks BJP leader's post on Cong 'toolkit' manipulated; IT Ministry steps in, calls it biased|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sambit-patra-tweet-manipulated-media-toolkit-twitter-7324737/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 19, 2021|title=What is 'Congress toolkit' controversy: All you need to know {{!}} India News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/what-is-the-congress-toolkit-controversy-all-you-need-to-know/articleshow/82761578.cms|access-date=2021-06-19|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India)|Ministry of Communications and Information Technology]] issued a request for Twitter to remove the label, alleging that Twitter's decision was "prejudged, prejudiced, and a deliberate attempt to colour the investigation by the local law enforcement agency".<ref name=":0" /> After Twitter refused to remove the label, its offices in New Delhi were raided by police.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ramachandran|first=Naman|date=2021-05-24|title=Twitter's India Offices Raided by Delhi Police After Political Tweet|url=https://variety.com/2021/digital/global/twitter-india-offices-raid-bjp-1234980231/|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Variety|language=en-US}}</ref> In June 2021, Twitter lost its immunity as an "intermediary" under the [[Information Technology Act, 2000|Information Technology Act]] for its failure to appoint a local representative. It will be considered publisher of all materials posted on the platform.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-18|title=Legal protection of Twitter as intermediary is not absolute, it is compliance-oriented|url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/legal-protection-of-twitter-as-intermediary-is-not-absolute-it-is-compliance-oriented-9727961.html|access-date=2021-06-19|website=Firstpost}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=June 16, 2021|title=Twitter loses its status as intermediary platform in India due to non-compliance with new IT rules|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/twitter-loses-its-status-as-intermediary-platform-in-india-due-to-non-compliance-with-new-it-rules/videoshow/83563515.cms|access-date=2021-06-19|website=The Economic Times}}</ref> Later the same month, police in [[Uttar Pradesh]] registered a case against Twitter accusing it of distribution of child pornography.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Reuters |date=June 30, 2021 |title=Twitter faces new case for child pornography after India map row |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/30/india-twitter-kashmir-map-child-pornography |work=al-Jazeera |location= |access-date=July 1, 2021}}</ref> In March 2022, Delhi High Court questioned Twitter on why it would not block users posting objectionable content about Hindu Gods in the same way they blocked US President Donald Trump. The court sought a detailed explanation of Twitter's policies and asked them to file an affidavit.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Saxena |first=Akshita |publisher=LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK |date=2022-03-28 |title=Twitter Can Block Donald Trump's Account But Not User Posting Objectionable Content About Hindu Gods? Delhi High Court Asks |url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/delhi-high-court-twitter-hindu-gods-blasphemy-block-user-donald-trump-intermediary-it-rules-195182 |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref> In July 2022, Twitter started a lawsuit against the government of India after being ordered to remove multiple accounts and tweets that violated India's laws. Twitter is arguing that the laws are too restrictive and challenging the orders to block content. The company stated that some of the blocking demands "pertain to political content that is posted by official handles of political parties" and said that such orders are "a violation of the freedom of speech".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Singh |first1=Manish |title=Twitter, challenging block orders, sues India's government |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/05/twitter-sues-india-government/ |website=TechCrunch |date=July 5, 2022 |access-date=6 July 2022}}</ref> On 19 August 2023, [[Twitter|X]], formerly [[Twitter, Inc.|twitter]], suspended NewsClick's account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khanduri |first=Shailesh |title=Newsclick's Twitter account suspended |url=https://www.newsdrum.in/national/newsclick-twitter-account-suspended |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=www.newsdrum.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-08-16 |title=NAPM Condemns The Vindictive Targeting Of Progressive Media Houses, Including NewsClick{{!}} Countercurrents |url=https://countercurrents.org/2023/08/napm-condemns-the-vindictive-targeting-of-progressive-media-houses-including-newsclick/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=countercurrents.org |language=en-US}}</ref> On 20 August 2023, X suspended the account of The Kashmir Walla, a kashmiri news portal.<ref>{{Cite web |author=News Desk |date=2023-08-20 |title=Kashmiri news portal The Kashmir Walla's Twitter account withheld in India |url=https://thekashmiriyat.co.uk/kashmiri-news-portal-the-kashmir-wallas-twitter-account-withheld-in-india/ |access-date=2023-08-20 |website=The Kashmiriyat |language=en-US}}</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 Twitter regulatory board failed to remove illegal content that includes suicide, child pornography, and drug use. They issued 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|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=CBS News|date=March 10, 2021 |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> From March to April 2021 Roskomnadzor considered a ban and the 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|website=Nasdaq}}</ref> The government agency was met with denials and lack of urgency from the social network.<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/|access-date=2021-03-16|website=Cyprus Mail|date=March 16, 2021 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Roskomnadzor has the necessary “technical capabilities” to completely remove Twitter from Russian domain.<ref name=":03">{{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 severity of the situation occurred when over 3,000 posts containing child pornography in violation of Community Guidelines have been detected in 2021 by the agency that was later sent to Twitter regulatory board for verification. However Twitter sent no response back to the agency concerning the illegal content and has thereafter been charged of withholding its duty to maintain the social network's Community Guidelines.<ref name=":03"/> 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 $117,000 in fines.<ref>{{Cite news|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><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|date=April 2, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> On April 5, 2021, Russia extended its throttling of Twitter until May 15, 2021. On May 17, 2021, Roskomnadzor said that Twitter had removed 91% of the banned content and backed off on blocking Twitter. Barring 600 posts still pending removal, the government agency also said they would continue throttling Twitter on Mobile Devices only saying that Twitter needed to remove all the banned items and in the future delete reportedly illegal posts within 24 hours for all restrictions to be lifted.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-17|title=Russia partially halts punitive Twitter slowdown, warns other tech platforms|url=https://www.reuters.com/technology/russia-partially-lifts-restrictions-twitter-after-some-banned-content-deleted-2021-05-17/|access-date=2021-06-10|website=Reuters}}</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 election week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-27 |title=Internet disrupted in Tanzania on eve of general elections |url=https://netblocks.org/reports/internet-disrupted-in-tanzania-on-eve-of-presidential-elections-oy9abny3 |access-date= |website=[[NetBlocks]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-10-27 |title=Internet throttling, SMS blocking in days leading up to election in Tanzania |url=https://globalvoices.org/2020/10/27/internet-throttling-sms-blocking-in-days-leading-up-to-election-in-tanzania/ |access-date= |website=Global Voices |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.dw.com/en/tanzania-restricts-social-media-during-election/a-55433057|title = Tanzania Restricts 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|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"/> Some of the country's internet providers restricted access to Twitter during the [[2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake]] and its aftermath. No official statement has been made on the reason for the restriction.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Belanger |first1=Ashley |title=Twitter restrictions in Turkey unprecedented during a natural disaster, org says |url=https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2023/02/turkey-govt-blocking-twitter-access-hampering-earthquake-rescue-org-suggests/ |website=ArsTechnica |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=8 February 2023}}</ref> ====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> ===Suspending and restricting users=== {{Main|Deplatforming|Twitter suspensions|Twitter Files}} 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]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Opinion {{!}} Why I'm done with Twitter's black hole of outrage|url=https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/twitter-keeps-riding-line-between-moderation-censorship-n1273434|access-date=2021-11-13|website=MSNBC.com|date=July 12, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> [[Donald Trump]], the former [[President of the United States]], 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|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|author=Brian Fung|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|date=January 8, 2021 }}</ref> ===Semi-censorship=== [[File:Semi-censorship on Twitter ("Show more replies").png|thumb|Tweets are often hidden underneath "Show more replies". The semi-censorship can occur without the respective tweet violating any policy and without the user being given any explanation.]] [[File:Semi-censorship on Twitter (hiding non-offensive content under "Show additional replies"); Cropped and light theme.png|thumb|The content that is displayed instead of the hidden tweets. In many cases, tweets that do not contain any offensive language or e.g. inconvenient truths that offend some users are also hidden underneath this message.]] Twitter's policies have been described as subject to [[Internet manipulation|manipulation by users]] who may coordinate to flag politically [[Controversy|controversial]] tweets as allegedly violating the platform's policies, resulting in [[deplatforming]] of controversial users or users who made tweets they object to.<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, the platform introduced hiding tweets from certain accounts in conversations and search results under "Show more replies". When Twitter's software decides that a certain user is "detract[ing] from the conversation", that user's tweets will be hidden from search results and public conversations until an unspecified change occurs, with the user not being made aware that they're being semi-censored in this way or why.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oremus |first1=Will |title=Twitter Will Start Hiding Tweets That “Detract From the Conversation” |url=https://slate.com/technology/2018/05/twitter-will-start-hiding-tweets-that-detract-from-the-conversation.html |access-date=19 September 2023 |work=Slate |date=15 May 2018}}</ref> Studies have called the hiding 'reply deboosting' and found that 6.2% of the 41,092 existing accounts in their dataset had been shadow banned at least once during the study period.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jaidka |first1=Kokil |last2=Mukerjee |first2=Subhayan |last3=Lelkes |first3=Yphtach |title=An audit of Twitter’s shadowban sanctions in the United States |url=https://www.easychair.org/publications/preprint_download/z4jt |access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="10.1016/j.clsr.2023.105790">{{cite journal |last1=Leerssen |first1=Paddy |title=An end to shadow banning? Transparency rights in the Digital Services Act between content moderation and curation |journal=Computer Law & Security Review |date=1 April 2023 |volume=48 |pages=105790 |doi=10.1016/j.clsr.2023.105790 |issn=0267-3649}}</ref> As of 2023, there is no place to report unwarranted hiding of tweets, nor are there any measures to ensure hiding is not arbitrary or for questionable purposes such as commercial interests. Through these and other features, platforms like Twitter conduct an intransparent 'management of visibilities' that steers and nudges audiences in more or less subtle ways.<ref name="10.1016/j.clsr.2023.105790"/> For several years, many social media users have expressed concerns about [[Ethics of artificial intelligence|algorithmic]] suppression.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Tiffany |first1=Kaitlyn |title=Elon Musk Can’t Solve Twitter’s ‘Shadowbanning’ Problem |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/01/twitter-shadow-ban-transparency-algorithm-suppression/672736/ |access-date=19 September 2023 |work=The Atlantic |date=17 January 2023 |language=en}}</ref> A number of those users may have collected specific tweets that have been hidden. Nevertheless, according to a 2022 news report, "[s]ocial-media companies deny quietly suppressing content". A study crawled more than 2.5 million Twitter profiles and found that nearly one in 40 had their tweets hidden.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nicholas |first1=Gabriel |title=Shadowbanning Is Big Tech’s Big Problem |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/04/social-media-shadowbans-tiktok-twitter/629702/ |access-date=19 September 2023 |work=The Atlantic |date=28 April 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Le Merrer |first1=Erwan |last2=Morgan |first2=Benoit |last3=Trédan |first3=Gilles |title=Setting the Record Straighter on Shadow Banning |url=https://arxiv.org/abs/2012.05101 |access-date=19 September 2023}}</ref> Tweets hidden this way do not show up in the notifications of the person replied to and most people browsing a Twitter thread may not click the button to see additional replies. A study about practices of 'silencing' users on social media suggests that that algorithms play a critical role in steering online attention on social media has implications for algorithmic accountability.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Jaidka |first1=Kokil |last2=Mukerjee |first2=Subhayan |last3=Lelkes |first3=Yphtach |title=Silenced on social media: the gatekeeping functions of shadowbans in the American Twitterverse |journal=Journal of Communication |date=1 April 2023 |volume=73 |issue=2 |pages=163–178 |doi=10.1093/joc/jqac050}}</ref> In 2022, it was reported that Musk didn't clarify what metrics Twitter might use to determine if a tweet may be "wrong and bad" or "destructive to the world".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Fung |first1=Brian |last2=Duffy |first2=Clare |title=Elon Musk says he would reverse Twitter's Trump ban {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/05/10/tech/elon-musk-twitter-trump-ban/index.html |access-date=19 September 2023 |work=CNN |date=10 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He clarified "Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom of reach", which may underline how he and the platform can continue to hide or deboost any content for any unspecified reasons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Francesco |first1=Lomonaco |title=Raising Teenagers' Awareness of Social Media Threats: A Theoretical and Empirical Study |url=https://boa.unimib.it/handle/10281/415539 |website=boa.unimib.it}}</ref> ;Incidents 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> ''The New York Times'' reported in September 2021 that a [[Federal Election Commission]] inquiry into a complaint about the matter found Twitter had acted with a valid commercial reason, rather than a political purpose. The FEC inquiry also found that allegations Twitter had violated election laws by allegedly [[shadow banning]] Republicans and other means were "vague, speculative and unsupported by the available information."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/us/politics/fec-twitter-hunter-biden-article.html|title=The F.E.C. dismisses claims that Twitter illegally blocked a Hunter Biden article.|first=Shane|last=Goldmacher| newspaper=The New York Times |date=September 13, 2021}}</ref> 2023, under Elon Musk's leadership, tweets containing the keyword "[[Substack]]" were temporary restricted: Liking, sharing and searching for such tweets were prevented.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2023-04-11 |title=Twitter ends Substack newsletter censorship, for now |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/twitter-ends-substack-newsletter-censorship-for-now/article66723565.ece |access-date=2023-04-25 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> In connection to that [[Matt Taibbi]] ([[Twitter Files]] author) was temporary shadowbanned as well.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-11 |title=Twitter Files journalist Matt Taibbi 'shadow banned' by Elon Musk |url=https://nypost.com/2023/04/11/twitter-files-journalist-matt-taibbi-shadow-banned-by-elon-musk/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> ==Government blocking of Twitter access== <section begin=authmap/> {{image frame |width=490 |caption={{legend|blue|Currently blocked:{{Flag|Iran}}, {{Flag|Myanmar}}, {{Flag|North Korea}}, {{Flag|Russia}}, {{Flag|Turkmenistan}}}} {{legend|lightblue|Formerly blocked: {{Flag|China}}, {{Flag|Egypt}}, {{Flag|Nigeria}}, {{Flag|Pakistan}}, {{Flag|Turkey}}, {{Flag|Uganda}}, {{Flag|UAE}}, {{Flag|Uzbekistan}}}} |content={{Graph:Map|scale=75|defaultValue=gainsboro |KP=blue |CN=blue |TM=blue |IR=blue |MM=blue |RU=blue |NG=lightblue |EG=lightblue |TR=lightblue |UG=lightblue |PK=lightblue |AE=lightblue |UZ=lightblue }} }} <section end=authmap/> In some cases, governments and other authorities take unilateral action to block Internet access to Twitter or its content. {{As of|2022|8}}, the governments of [[China]], [[Iran]], [[Myanmar]], [[North Korea]], [[Russia]], and [[Turkmenistan]] have blocked access to Twitter.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://time.com/6139988/countries-where-twitter-facebook-tiktok-banned/ | date=January 18, 2022 | title=These Are the Countries Where Twitter, Facebook and TikTok Are Banned | last=Barry| first=Eloise}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Sentence begins "As of February 2022" but reference was published January 18; need updated source.|date=March 2022}} === Current === ==== 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 |doi-access=free }}</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, Chinese diplomats, embassies and consulates maintained 55 identified accounts on Twitter as of 2019, with over half having been established within the year alone.<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 a ''Washington Post'' report, in 2019, state security officials visited some users in China to request them to delete certain 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 |newspaper=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 process as "unusually broad and punitive". The targets of the crackdown even included lurkers on the platform 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 |archive-date=1 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190901020025/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/10/business/china-twitter-censorship-online.html |url-status=dead }}</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 the 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 the [[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 |website= [[Fox Business]] |date= 6 July 2020 |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=15 August 2020}}</ref> According to the official verdicts as of 2020, at least hundreds of Chinese were sentenced to prison for using Twitter to like, post or share tweets.<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> According to the documents obtained by the New York Times in 2021, Shanghai police were trying to use technology means to find out the true identities of Chinese users of specific accounts on foreign social media, including Twitter.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/20/technology/china-facebook-twitter-influence-manipulation.html|title= Buying Influence: How China Manipulates Facebook and Twitter|work= The New York Times|date= 2021-12-20|archiveurl= https://archive.today/20211220092243/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/20/technology/china-facebook-twitter-influence-manipulation.html|archivedate= 2021-12-20|access-date= 2021-12-20|url-status= live}}</ref> In 2022, [[Peiter Zatko]], Twitter's former head of security, accused Twitter of accepting funding from unnamed "Chinese entities", which gave them access to the information of users in China, and Twitter knew that could endanger these users.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/tech/twitter-foreign-intel-problem/index.html|title= Twitter is vulnerable to Russian and Chinese influence, whistleblower says|work=CNN|date=2022-08-23}}</ref> Zatko also disclosed that FBI notified Twitter of at least one Chinese agent in the company.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/twitter-whistleblower-congress-grassley/fbi-notified-twitter-of-at-least-one-chinese-agent-in-company-whistleblower-idUKL1N30K19Q FBI notified Twitter of at least one Chinese agent in company -- whistleblower]</ref> ==== Iran ==== {{main|Internet censorship in Iran}} During the [[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, but within a day the websites 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> ==== Myanmar ==== {{main|Internet in Myanmar#Censorship}} On 5 February 2021, the military [[State Administration Council]], which assumed power following a [[2021 Myanmar coup d'état|coup d'état]], ordered mobile and Internet providers to block Twitter and Instagram in the country, after a similar censorship measure was imposed on Facebook.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Iyengar |first=Rishi |date=2021-02-05 |title=Myanmar blocks Twitter and Instagram |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/05/tech/myanmar-blocks-twitter-instagram/index.html |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Lyons |first=Kim |date=2021-02-06 |title=Myanmar orders internet providers to block Twitter and Instagram in the country |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/6/22269831/myanmar-orders-block-twitter-facebook-instagram-military-coup |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> A spokesperson for Twitter subsequently said that the company would "continue to advocate to end destructive government-led shutdowns".<ref name=":2" /> ==== 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" /> ==== Russia ==== On 26 February 2022, during the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|invasion of Ukraine]], Russia began restricting access to Twitter, with global internet monitor [[NetBlocks]] observing that the censorship measure was in effect "across multiple providers."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-26 |title=Twitter and Facebook restricted in Russia amid conflict with Ukraine |url=https://netblocks.org/reports/twitter-and-facebook-restricted-in-russia-amid-conflict-with-ukraine-JBZrogB6 |access-date= |website=[[NetBlocks]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Russia restricts Twitter, Facebook during Ukraine attack |url=https://news.yahoo.com/russia-restricts-twitter-facebook-during-200817875.html |website=Axios}}</ref> Despite direct connections being restricted, Russians could still access Twitter via VPN services.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brandom |first=Russell |date=2022-02-26 |title=Russia blocks Twitter as Ukraine invasion escalates |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/26/22952006/russia-block-twitter-ukraine-invasion-censorship-putin |access-date= |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref> The decision was subsequently announced by [[Roskomnadzor]] as a measure to curtail information on Twitter and [[Facebook]] that did not align with the [[Government of Russia]]'s positions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/sarahemerson/russia-blocks-facebook-twitter|title=Facebook And Twitter Have Been Blocked In Russia|date=March 4, 2022|accessdate=March 4, 2022|website=[[BuzzFeed]]}}</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> === Former === ==== Egypt (2011) ==== {{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=dead}}</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...|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. ==== Nigeria (2021–2022) ==== {{Main|Ban of Twitter in Nigeria}} From 5 June 2021 to 13 January 2022, the government of [[Nigeria]] officially banned Twitter,<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> which restricted it from operating in the country. The ban occurred after Twitter deleted tweets made by, and temporarily [[Twitter suspensions|suspended]], the Nigerian president [[Muhammadu Buhari]], warning the [[Southeast Nigeria|southeastern]] people of Nigeria,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-02|title=Twitter removes Nigerian president's 'abusive' civil war post|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/twitter-removes-nigerian-presidents-abusive-civil-war-post-2021-06-02/|access-date=2021-06-06|website=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-06-02|title=Nigeria Condemns Twitter for Deleting President Buhari's Tweet|language=en|work=Bloomberg.com|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-02/nigerian-president-threatens-crackdown-after-spate-of-attacks|access-date=2021-06-06}}</ref> predominantly [[Igbo people]], of a potential repeat of the 1967 [[Biafran Civil War]] due to the ongoing [[insurgency in Southeastern Nigeria]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-02|title=Twitter deletes Nigerian leader's 'civil war' post|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57336571|access-date=2021-06-06|website=BBC News|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Nigeria bans Twitter after company deletes President Buhari's tweet|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/04/africa/nigeria-suspends-twitter-operations-intl/index.html|access-date=2021-06-05|website=CNN|date=June 4, 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Maclean|first=Ruth|date=2021-06-05|title=Nigeria Bans Twitter After President's Tweet Is Deleted|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/05/world/africa/nigeria-twitter-president.html|access-date=2021-06-05|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":04">{{Cite news|title=Nigeria suspends Twitter after the social media platform freezes president's account|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/06/04/nigeria-suspends-twitter-buhari/|access-date=2021-06-05|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Nigerians on Twitter react to Nigeria's Twitter suspension|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/6/4/nigerian-twitter-users-blast-govt-ban-of-social-media-giant|access-date=2021-06-05|website=www.aljazeera.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Twitter blocked in Nigeria after deleting a tweet by its president|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/5/22520166/twitter-suspended-nigeria-delete-tweet-president-violate-rules|access-date=2021-06-06|website=www.theverge.com| date=5 June 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The Nigerian government claimed that the deletion of the president's tweets factored into their decision, but it was ultimately based on "a litany of problems with the social media platform in Nigeria, where misinformation and fake news spread through it have had real world violent consequences",<ref name="BBC Coverage">{{Cite web|date=2021-06-06|title=Nigeria's Twitter ban: Government orders prosecution of violators |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-57368535 |access-date=2021-06-07 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> citing the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria's corporate existence.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-04|title=BREAKING: FG suspends Twitter's operations in Nigeria|url=https://theinformant247.com/breaking-fg-suspends-twitters-operations-in-nigeria/|access-date=2021-09-28|website=The Informant247 News|language=en-US}}</ref> ==== Turkey (2014) ==== {{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 was 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 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]]}}{{Dead link|date=June 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</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|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> ==== Uzbekistan (2021–2022) ==== On July 2, 2021, Uzbekistan blocked access to Twitter along with TikTok, VKontakte, and Skype after stating that they had violated a new personal data law. This also came amid new laws passed that criminalized insulting or slandering the president online, amid an upcoming presidential election later that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-03-07 |title=Uzbekistan Restricts Access To Several Social Media Sites |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-restricts-social-media/31339492.html |access-date= |website=[[RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The sites were briefly unblocked on March 16, 2022 before being blocked again hours later.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-03-17 |title=Uzbekistan unblocks, re-blocks popular social media amid TikTok talks |url=https://eurasianet.org/uzbekistan-unblocks-re-blocks-popular-social-media-amid-tiktok-talks |access-date= |website=[[eurasianet]] |language=en-US}}</ref> The bans on access to Twitter and VKontakte were again lifted on August 1, 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-02 |title=Twitter unblocked in Uzbekistan |work=[[eurasianet]] |url=https://eurasianet.org/twitter-unblocked-in-uzbekistan |url-status=live |access-date=2023-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809071145/https://eurasianet.org/twitter-unblocked-in-uzbekistan |archive-date=2022-08-09}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Deplatforming]] * [[Shadow banning]] * [[Twitter suspensions]] * [[Twitter Files]] ==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]]'