Twitter Bans Several Major ‘Alt-Right’ Trolls

“There’s a fine line between free expression and abuse, and this launch is another step on the path toward getting rid of abuse”, said Del Harvey, Twitter‘s vice president of trust and security.

Twitter already has a “mute” button that allows users to block accounts they don’t want to see but under new feature it will be rolling out under ‘notifications, ‘ users can mute keywords, phrases and even entire conversations they don’t want to see notifications about.

“The amount of abuse, bullying, and harassment we’ve seen across the Internet has risen sharply over the past few years”.

“T$3 he ADL report adds further confirmation that the company fails to ban abusive accounts”, the SPLC stated, sharing ADL study’s findings on its website.

Twitter has suspended the accounts of several people associated with the alt-right movement, a loosely organised far-right group that espouses white nationalism and has shown strong support for U.S. president-elect Donald Trump.

A user on Tuesday, meanwhile, directed Twitter’s attention to a promoted tweet from New Order-a website propagating Nazism in the 21st Century-publicizing a news article about “White America”.

“Heidi Beirich, a spokeswoman for the Southern Poverty Law Center, told USA Today that the organisation had requested the removal of over 100 white supremacist Twitter accounts, but “[Twitter has] done nothing”.

Tait argued that social media giants need to “improve the way they deal with trolls, vitriol, and death threats on their sites”.

In the first concerted attack on social media accounts belonging to alt-right personalities, Twitter has banned several of the most prominent members who associate themselves with the alt-right movement.

USA Today reported on Wednesday that Twitter had suspended the account of Richard Spencer, a leading voice of the alt-right movement, which is rooted in white supremacist, misogynistic and authoritarian ideologies.

Mr Spencer said he would be transferring to Gab, an alternative micro-blogging service used by many alt-right members.

Spencer, who according to anti-hate group SPLC “calls for “peaceful ethnic cleansing” to halt the “deconstruction” of European culture”, decried the bans as “corporate Stalinism” to right-wing news outlet Daily Caller.

The alt-right movement has flourished on both Facebook and Twitter, despite complaints over the group’s hateful rhetoric and abuse.

But Twitter pointed to its “hateful conduct” policies when asked why the accounts were suspended.

Until last night, the company had done little to stem the tide of harassment, especially during a heated election season in which alt-right accounts – many supporting the President-Elect – spread hate and misinformation.

Meanwhile, alt-right supporters have taken to other online venues to express anger over the suspensions.