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| Twitter will not ban InfoWars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones | Twitter will not ban InfoWars conspiracy theorist Alex Jones |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The CEO of Twitter says it will not ban InfoWars or its founder Alex Jones because their accounts do not violate the social media platform's rules. | The CEO of Twitter says it will not ban InfoWars or its founder Alex Jones because their accounts do not violate the social media platform's rules. |
| A number of tech giants, including YouTube and Facebook, deleted the right-wing conspiracy theorist's content this week, citing hate speech. | A number of tech giants, including YouTube and Facebook, deleted the right-wing conspiracy theorist's content this week, citing hate speech. |
| Mr Jones has accused the platforms of unfair censorship of his accounts. | Mr Jones has accused the platforms of unfair censorship of his accounts. |
| The radio host is best known for spreading unsubstantiated allegations about tragic events, including 9/11. | The radio host is best known for spreading unsubstantiated allegations about tragic events, including 9/11. |
| He is currently being sued for defamation by the parents of two children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which he has repeatedly claimed was a "giant hoax". Twenty children under the age of seven and six adults died in the attack. | He is currently being sued for defamation by the parents of two children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which he has repeatedly claimed was a "giant hoax". Twenty children under the age of seven and six adults died in the attack. |
| In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey explained the platform's decision, confirming it would not be following in the footsteps of others like Apple and Spotify and removing Mr Jones' and InfoWars' content. | In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey explained the platform's decision, confirming it would not be following in the footsteps of others like Apple and Spotify and removing Mr Jones' and InfoWars' content. |
| Mr Dorsey said the accounts had not violated the platform's rules, but vowed to suspend them if they ever did so. | Mr Dorsey said the accounts had not violated the platform's rules, but vowed to suspend them if they ever did so. |
| In his explanation, Mr Dorsey said it would be wrong to "succumb and simply react to outside pressure" instead of sticking to the company's codified principles. | In his explanation, Mr Dorsey said it would be wrong to "succumb and simply react to outside pressure" instead of sticking to the company's codified principles. |
| He also implied one-off actions risked fuelling new conspiracy theories in the long-run, and said it was critical for journalists to "document, validate and refute" unsubstantiated rumours like the ones spread by Mr Jones "so people can form their own opinions". | He also implied one-off actions risked fuelling new conspiracy theories in the long-run, and said it was critical for journalists to "document, validate and refute" unsubstantiated rumours like the ones spread by Mr Jones "so people can form their own opinions". |
| What has Jones said on Twitter? | What has Jones said on Twitter? |
| Mr Jones mostly uses his Twitter account to share content and videos from InfoWars with his 850,000 followers, and promotes conspiracy theories against liberals, Muslims and migrants. | Mr Jones mostly uses his Twitter account to share content and videos from InfoWars with his 850,000 followers, and promotes conspiracy theories against liberals, Muslims and migrants. |
| Some users replied angrily to the Twitter CEO's tweets, accusing the platform of ignoring hate speech and labelling his explanation a "cop out". | Some users replied angrily to the Twitter CEO's tweets, accusing the platform of ignoring hate speech and labelling his explanation a "cop out". |
| Mr Dorsey expanded on his original messages after receiving the criticism. He wrote in a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon that the platform must build new tools to support journalists, who he described as "one of the most important constituencies we serve". | |
| Several right-wing commentators have suggested the ability of tech firms to block a publisher poses a challenge to free speech laws in the US. | Several right-wing commentators have suggested the ability of tech firms to block a publisher poses a challenge to free speech laws in the US. |
| On Monday, Donald Trump Jnr implied the actions against Jones were part of a larger censorship campaign to purge conservative media outlets. | On Monday, Donald Trump Jnr implied the actions against Jones were part of a larger censorship campaign to purge conservative media outlets. |
| The InfoWars app has seen a surge in popularity since Mr Jones' content was taken down from YouTube and Facebook, rising to number 4 in the news category in Apple's App Store. | The InfoWars app has seen a surge in popularity since Mr Jones' content was taken down from YouTube and Facebook, rising to number 4 in the news category in Apple's App Store. |
| Jones has called the removal of his content part of an international conspiracy against him, which he says amounts to "election meddling" ahead of the US mid-term elections later this year. | Jones has called the removal of his content part of an international conspiracy against him, which he says amounts to "election meddling" ahead of the US mid-term elections later this year. |
| This is not the first time Twitter has faced similar controversy. | This is not the first time Twitter has faced similar controversy. |
| Last year it suspended its verification system after being accused of amplifying the content of far-right accounts with official "blue ticks". | Last year it suspended its verification system after being accused of amplifying the content of far-right accounts with official "blue ticks". |
| In Tuesday's tweets Mr Dorsey admitted the platform had been "terrible at explaining our decisions in the past" but said it was committed to fixing itself. | In Tuesday's tweets Mr Dorsey admitted the platform had been "terrible at explaining our decisions in the past" but said it was committed to fixing itself. |
| A number of well-known far-right figures including Tommy Robinson have been banned from Twitter in recent months as part of a wider crackdown on hateful and abusive content on the platform. | A number of well-known far-right figures including Tommy Robinson have been banned from Twitter in recent months as part of a wider crackdown on hateful and abusive content on the platform. |
| Earlier this year, Twitter's tCEO asked for the public's help with tackling online abuse. |