Twitter announced last Thursday that it would implement a new method to selectively censor tweets that violate laws in various countries. It was done in fear that these countries would block Twitter if it doesn’t do something to please them.
Twitter also said that it would expand its relationship with Chilling Effects, a web site that lists all Twitter removal requests and has information as to who files them and whom they are directed. The site consists of link negation complaints where a copyright holder seen a tweet that links to an illegal download site and filed a request to take down the tweet.
The action seems more likely to address the Digital Millennium Copyright Act or other piracy violations. But it could be abused by dictators who want to censor its citizens. It could block political tweets, including messages to organize large street protests.
But Twitter is not the only tool used in protests. In the recent past, demonstrators use IMs services over mobile phone networks. They use cellular service that’s available for them. It is amazing how Twitter would be able to filter tweets as they flow in by the millions per second. A demonstration was planned this weekend to protest against the new mechanism.
