Twitter Users Can Lose Their Verification For Promoting Hate Speech As Nazi Richard Spencer Finds Out

Twitter will begin removing verification badges

from users who violate its rules, the company said today. The announcement, which was made on the official @TwitterSupport account, appears to make concrete a policy that began in January when the company removed the badge from the account of the noxious right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos. (It banned him from the service months later.)

“Verification has long been perceived as an endorsement,” the company said in a tweet. “We gave verified accounts visual prominence on the service which deepened this perception. We should have addressed this earlier but did not prioritize the work as we should have.”

Twitter said the problem worsened after is decision, in July 2016, to let anyone request a verified account. “This perception became worse when we opened up verification for public submissions and verified people who we in no way endorse,” Twitter said.

Some of the people that they “in no way endorse” include right wingers Richard Spencer, Laura Loomer and others. Here’s a few reactions:

It’s encouraging to think that social media is cleaning up its act; and it’s always nice when the Nazis are bummed out. The Crying Nazi should be really weeping and wailing tonight when he hears this one. Maybe Donald Trump can toss him a few cases of Kleenex, ya spose?

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