Twitter Expands QAnon Restrictions To Include Candidates, Elected Officials
Topline
Twitter said Thursday it will extend its restrictions on QAnon-linked accounts and content to political candidates and elected officials who promote the conspiracy theory, a pivot in the company’s stance from August when it told Forbes it was “evaluating” an “expansion” of the policy.
Conspiracy theorist QAnon demonstrators protest child trafficking on Hollywood Boulevard in Los … [+]
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
In July, Twitter cracked down on the conspiracy theory, banning more than 7,000 accounts and preventing QAnon content from appearing on sections of its site — but its enforcement policy was murky when it came to elected officials and candidates.
Forbes identified 15 candidates on Twitter — some with a huge following — that were verified on the platform and continued to promote the conspiracy theory with few restrictions.
In August, Twitter told Forbes it was considering a change to its QAnon enforcement policy to include elected officials.
On Thursday, a Twitter spokesperson told Forbes candidates and elected officials will no longer receive special treatment — accounts that promote QAnon “will no longer be actively recommended by Twitter” and verified users who engage in coordinated promotion of QAnon content (as QAnon followers often do) will have their tweets downranked.
The policy tweak Thursday was part of an announcement indicating the framework for how the policy would exist moving forward.
Twitter also announced that its July crackdown has helped to reduce impressions on QAnon content by more than 50%.
Crucial Quote
In August, when Forbes asked Twitter how its QAnon policy applied to political candidates, a spokesperson said that its restrictions would not “broadly” apply to candidates and elected officials.
Further Reading
Twitter Cracked Down On QAnon—But Candidates Touting The Conspiracy Still Thrive There (Forbes)
QAnon Supporter Greene Wins Primary And Gets Push From Trump (Forbes)
The Democrat Running Against QAnon Supporter Greene For Congress Just Dropped Out (Forbes)
Trump-Backed Candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene Promotes 9/11 Conspiracy Theory (Forbes)
Trump Won’t Disavow QAnon Conspiracy Theory (Forbes)
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