Twitter vows new crackdown on hateful, abusive tweets

MENLO PARK, Calif. – Twitter vowed to crack down further on hate speech and sexual harassment, days after CEO Jack Dorsey said in a tweet-storm that the company was “still” not doing enough to protect users.

The policy changes are specifically aimed at protecting women who unknowingly or unwillingly had nude pictures of themselves distributed online or were subject to unwanted sexual advances. They would also shield groups subject to hateful imagery, symbols and threats of violence.

In an email shared Tuesday with the Associated Press, Twitter’s head of safety policy outlined the new guidelines to a group of outside organizations that advises Twitter on its policies against abuse.

The company said it would enact the changes in coming weeks. News of the policy changes was first reported by Wired.