Following US indictments, Twitter bans Russia-linked accounts
San Francisco, July 15 : In response to the US' indictment of 12 Russian military intelligence officers for hacking into the Democrats' emails during the 2016 presidential campaign, Twitter has banned accounts for both Moscow-linked DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0.
They were "connected to a network of accounts" that had already been shut down for violating rules, a Twitter spokesperson told Engadget of the suspensions on Saturday.
At the same time, Twitter was aware that the shutdowns were considered overdue and the indictments just formalised the connections, the company added.
"We're reviewing our policies in light of this and expect to make updates soon," Twitter told The New York Times in a separate statement.
"We recognise that to promote healthy conversation we need to be responsive to ways the platform is being misused and we are committed to that here and everywhere," the company added.
It's not certain what those changes might be.
However, Twitter has faced more than a handful of accusations that it only belatedly recognised the threat of electoral interference on its platform, with bot purges, candidate labels and other anti-manipulation tactics only coming after the 2016 US presidential vote.
This may be an acknowledgment that it needs to be more proactive in dealing with accounts linked to hacking and other criminal activity, especially when politics are involved.
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We have evidence of BJP MLC Ravi using invective inside K''taka Legislative Council: CM Siddaramaiah
Kalaburagi (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said audio and video evidence exists to prove that BJP MLC C T Ravi used invective against Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar on the floor of the Legislative Council on December 19.
The CM further said several MLCs witnessed the incident.
"We are getting the matter investigated because it constitutes a criminal offense. Then why is he (Ravi) asking for judicial inquiry?" Siddaramaiah wondered.
"There is audio and video evidence of him using derogatory language. Many MLCs heard him. It amounts to criminal offense, isn't it?" he asked.
Siddaramaiah termed the actions of the senior BJP leader as "highly condemnable".
Ravi was arrested for allegedly using abusive language against the Woman and Child Development Minister Laxmi Hebbalkar inside the Council on the concluding day of the winter session of state legislature in Belagavi on December 19.
Later, he was granted bail by the court.
