ISIS’s beheading of journalist James Foley hit Twitter in a propaganda video that was quickly shared along with graphic still photos of the atrocity. Twitter soon decided to suspend the accounts of those sharing the images and video.
Twitter CEO Dick Costolo tweeted that the social media site would be suspending the accounts spreading the images early Wednesday morning.
We have been and are actively suspending accounts as we discover them related to this graphic imagery. Thank you https://t.co/jaYQBKVbBF
— dick costolo (@dickc) August 20, 2014
In addition to suspending the accounts of ISIS sympathizers attempting to spread the propaganda, Twitter also began suspending accounts of journalists, including Radio Sawa’s Washington correspondent Zaid Benjamin.
An email from @twitter on my account suspension earlier pic.twitter.com/dOX3vb1Vtb
— Zaid Benjamin (@zaidbenjamin) August 19, 2014
Twitter declined, however, to suspend the accounts of the New York Post and the New York Daily News – both of which promoted their front pages that featured graphic images of Foley's execution on the site. "The Post's tweet contains a warning for some users, depending on their media settings," Twitter said in a statement to Business Insider, explaining its decision. Some, like Neetal Zimmerman, were disappointed that Twitter hadn't punished the New York papers.
Wow, this is some bullshit. Twitter won't suspend @nypost & @nydailynews for posting James Foley beheading fotos: https://t.co/sqRvfDpKku
— Neetzan Zimmerman (@neetzan) August 20, 2014
From here on out, I won't share any photo or video of violence intentionally recorded & released by ISIS for propaganda. #ISISmediaBlackout
— Hend (@LibyaLiberty) August 19, 2014
I think #ISISmediablackout comes from a good place. But it is ultimately counterproductive. Closing ones eyes does not make horrors go away.
— Noah Rothman (@NoahCRothman) August 20, 2014
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