Twitter cracks down on images of Foley killing

Published: Aug 20, 2014 2:19 p.m. ET

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Social network unveils new policy to delete images of the dead

Twitter

By

BenjaminPimentel

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Twitter is cracking down on images of the execution of journalist James Foley, announcing that it is suspending accounts related to “graphic imagery” from the gruesome killing.

A video showing Foley being beheaded by an ISIS militant has been spreading on social media. Images from the beheading have also been posted on Twitter and other platforms.

The reaction to the images was so strong that Twitter TWTR, +1.41%  Chief Executive Dick Costolo tweeted a New York Times account of the killing, announcing, “We have been and are actively suspending accounts as we discover them related to this graphic imagery.”

A Twitter campaign using the hashtag #ISISmediaBlackout urged users not to re-post images or video clips of Foley’s execution.

“When terrorists or war criminals deliberately advertise their crimes, don’t help them,” one Twitter image said. “When social media shares gruesome photos widely to report the events, journalists and observers are doing their PR for them and this social media just encourages more of the same brutal behavior.”

Twitter’s move comes after the San Francisco-based company’s decision to remove images of dead people at the request of family members or authorized individuals.

The new policy, which was published last week, came in the wake of highly insensitive posts, including fake images, related to the death of actor Robin Williams. The posts prompted William’s daughter, Zelda Williams, to suspend her social media participation.

“In order to respect the wishes of loved ones, Twitter will remove imagery of deceased individuals in certain circumstances,” the Twitter policy said.

“Immediate family members and other authorized individuals may request the removal of images or video of deceased individuals, from when critical injury occurs to the moments before or after death, by sending an e-mail to privacy@twitter.com,” the company said. “When reviewing such media removal requests, Twitter considers public interest factors such as the newsworthiness of the content and may not be able to honor every request.”

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