Engadget Logo Engadget Japanese version Twitter, expand the scope of personal information policy. Prohibit publishing of private photos and videos without consent

Twitter has expanded its privacy policy to prohibit users from sharing private photos and videos without the subject's permission. Twitter says that tweeting a photo or video without permission violates someone's privacy and can cause harm to that person.

Twitter's safety team said it could disproportionately impact "women, activists, dissidents, and members of minority communities," in particular. Also, if an image or video that violates the policy is shared, Twitter will remove the media and take appropriate compulsory measures, such as making the tweet less likely to appear in search results or deleting the tweet before posting. The person will be notified. Twitter also reserves the right to permanently suspend user accounts that violate its policies.

There are exceptions to this policy, however, where photos or videos of purported public figures are considered "shared in the public interest or add value to public discourse," i.e. newsworthy. If there is, there are times when it is okay to share it. Twitter will also consider whether the image is shared successfully on mainstream and traditional public media such as television and newspapers.

However, if the purpose of sharing a public figure's private photos or videos is to harass, threaten, or silence an "individual who is a hot topic on the street", there is a possibility that the photo will be deleted. and Existing policies continue to apply to non-consensual images such as abusive behavior and revenge porn.

Other previously prohibited actions include exposing information such as someone's address, phone number, social security number, or bank account. Any use of this information to threaten an individual is, of course, not permitted. Twitter said the new policy is part of an effort to align its safety policy with human rights standards.