This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/may/20/troll-uses-twitter-adverts-to-urge-trans-people-to-kill-themselves
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Troll uses Twitter adverts to urge transgender people to kill themselves | Troll uses Twitter adverts to urge transgender people to kill themselves |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Twitter users have expressed outrage at a troll’s use of Twitter’s promoted tweets to insert abuse targeting transgender people into their feeds. | Twitter users have expressed outrage at a troll’s use of Twitter’s promoted tweets to insert abuse targeting transgender people into their feeds. |
| The troll account, pretending to be that of Australian activist and feminist campaigner Caitlin Roper, posted abuse and graphic images and promoted a tweet using Twitter’s paid-for native advertising service which called for trans people to kill themselves | The troll account, pretending to be that of Australian activist and feminist campaigner Caitlin Roper, posted abuse and graphic images and promoted a tweet using Twitter’s paid-for native advertising service which called for trans people to kill themselves |
| The promoted tweet started appearing in the Twitter streams of many users who reacted with anger both at the content and the fact that Twitter had promoted the tweet. | The promoted tweet started appearing in the Twitter streams of many users who reacted with anger both at the content and the fact that Twitter had promoted the tweet. |
| Why the fuck is this disgusting shit being promoted into my timeline? What the hell is going on? pic.twitter.com/ZJ4TUwI70z | Why the fuck is this disgusting shit being promoted into my timeline? What the hell is going on? pic.twitter.com/ZJ4TUwI70z |
| What the fucking FUCK?! pic.twitter.com/xRqCQJz2n0 | What the fucking FUCK?! pic.twitter.com/xRqCQJz2n0 |
| (TW: transphobia) Hey, @twitter, what the HELL is that promoted tweet? How on earth did that just appear on my TL? pic.twitter.com/vrPqlF24iy | (TW: transphobia) Hey, @twitter, what the HELL is that promoted tweet? How on earth did that just appear on my TL? pic.twitter.com/vrPqlF24iy |
| The account was suspended within hours by Twitter after multiple reports of abuse. The promoted tweet was also pulled from the service. | The account was suspended within hours by Twitter after multiple reports of abuse. The promoted tweet was also pulled from the service. |
| Roper, the activist whose account was impersonated, has been targeted for abuse before, including cloned accounts pretending to be her and making derogatory sexual comments. | Roper, the activist whose account was impersonated, has been targeted for abuse before, including cloned accounts pretending to be her and making derogatory sexual comments. |
| Hi friends, someone has created a Twitter account impersonating me and tweeting hateful comments. Account suspended, thanks for your help x | Hi friends, someone has created a Twitter account impersonating me and tweeting hateful comments. Account suspended, thanks for your help x |
| She has been targeted by various “men’s rights groups” including a group called A Voice For Men. At this stage it is not known who was behind the troll account on Twitter. | She has been targeted by various “men’s rights groups” including a group called A Voice For Men. At this stage it is not known who was behind the troll account on Twitter. |
| Earlier this year Twitter announced a crackdown on abuse, with tighter rules on what can be permitted on the social network, including banning indirect threats of violence. | Earlier this year Twitter announced a crackdown on abuse, with tighter rules on what can be permitted on the social network, including banning indirect threats of violence. |
| The company also announced it would be implementing a new filter that would automatically block threatening messages from reaching users. | The company also announced it would be implementing a new filter that would automatically block threatening messages from reaching users. |
| How the abusive tweet slipped through Twitter’s ads approval process is unknown. | How the abusive tweet slipped through Twitter’s ads approval process is unknown. |
| The Guardian has asked Twitter to explain how an abusive tweet could be promoted using its paid-for advertising service. A Twitter spokesperson said: “As soon as we were made aware we removed the ad and suspended the account.” |