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Star of David deemed ‘hateful imagery’ by Twitter; outraged users test it out

July 22, 2020 | | Print Article

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Several Twitter users were locked out of their accounts after the Star of David in their profiles was deemed “hateful imagery” by the social media platform.

Accounts using the symbol of Judaism and Jewish pride in profile images were reportedly locked by Twitter for violating rules about posting “hateful images or symbols,” according to the Campaign Against Antisemitism. The British charity organization reported that several Twitter users had reached out to say their accounts had recently been locked because of the symbol in their profile images.

(Image: Pixabay)

Twitter’s standard message explaining the action was apparently displayed when the users found their accounts locked and they would be able to access them again once the “hateful imagery” was removed.

“What happened? We have determined that this account violated the Twitter Rules. Specifically for: Violating our rules against posting hateful imagery,” the message reads. “You may not use hateful images or symbols in your profile image or profile header. As a result, we have locked your account.”

While countless account profiles seemed to be displaying the symbol as of this writing, and many having added the Star of David to counter Twitter’s move, many had claimed the social media platform had locked them out.

“It is deplorable enough that Twitter consistently fails to act against antisemitism on its platform, but now it is taking action against Jews for the simple crime of showing pride in their identity by displaying a Star of David. It never fails to astound just how low Twitter is prepared to go,” Stephen Silverman, Director of Investigations and Enforcement at Campaign Against Antisemitism, said.

“So often social media companies claim that they lack the resources to tackle hate on their platforms, but Twitter has put the lie to that claim by demonstrating that it does have the resources, but chooses to target the benign symbol of a victimised minority instead of the countless racists who use its platform with impunity,” he added.

“Twitter must immediately restore these accounts, apologise to the owners, and pledge finally to take robust action against the antisemites whom it has enabled for so long,” Silverman said.

Twitter came under fire last week when it reportedly failed to act immediately when the hashtag #JewishPrivilege began trending. And as the reports on the banning of the Star of David images circulated, Twitter users lashed out at the company.

“EXTREMELY bad call,” U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin tweeted in reaction.

“It’s being reported @Twitter locked people out of their accounts for posting the Star of David. Twitter is labeling it ‘hateful imagery’. This would be a new law for a platform that gives Farrakhan and Rouhani an all access pass,” the New York Republican added.

Some argued that the image in question was referring specifically to the “yellow Star of David badges” that were used in Nazi Germany and that Twitter was not banning all the symbols. A response soon came from the Twitter Public Policy account.

The official statement noted that some of the actions “were mistakes and have now been restored.”

But many Twitter users initially reacting to the reports took to the platform to post defiant messages of solidarity with the Jewish people.

 

 

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Frieda Powers
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