Twitter Is Under The Gun To Ban Terrorist Accounts

Twitter has received another request from an organization to ban an account it deems to be “terrorist”.

Although Twitter is staying mum on the issue, the Telegraph has received a copy of a letter from Shurat HaDin, the Israel Law Centre sent to the company.

In the letter, the Centre demands that Twitter block access to the Hezbollah Twitter account, which the Centre points out is classified as a terrorist organization by the United States.

In stern words, the Centre tells Twitter that by allowing Hezbollah and other Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs) to use its service, they are breaking US law:

“Please be advised that providing social media and other associated services to terrorist groups is illegal and will expose Twitter, Inc. and its officers to both criminal prosecution and civil liability to American citizens and others victimized by terrorisms carried out by Hezbollah, al-Shabaab or other FTOs.”

This letter follows closely on the heels of a previous request from US Congress that Twitter shut down Taliban-related Twitter accounts.

In response to this request, Twitter is said to be resisting on the grounds that the Taliban was not considered a terrorist organization. Their official policy on closing accounts is to only do so if they are in violation of the company’s own policies.

However, this latest letter from the Israel Law Centre goes further than Congress’ request, claiming that Twitter is actually breaking the law by allowing organizations like Hezbollah to maintain a presence on the network and tweet propaganda to other users.

(Top image: Arcady via Shutterstock)

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