Twitter CEO's Tweet-Blocking Defense: It's Just Business

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By Erika Morphy
TechNewsWorld
02/01/12 5:00 AM PT

Twitter CEO Dic Costolo answered critics of the company's new policy regarding tweet-blocking -- or censorship, as critics contend -- by insisting Twitter has no choice but to abide by other countries' laws. "It is a cop out," said marketing professor Daniel Ladik. "Twitter is acquiescing without even much of a fight when it should be leading the charge."

Twitter is on the defensive over its new tweet-filtering policy, which it considers a progressive, forward-looking approach to complying with local laws around the globe.

If a particular tweet might be illegal in one country -- such as a pro-Nazi sentiment, which would be illegal in Germany and France -- Twitter will block it in the country or countries in which it is forbidden but allow it to display in the rest of the global Twitter network.
Twitter will indicate to users in the countries in question that a tweet has been blocked, and why. It is expanding it partnership with Chilling Effects with a new page designed to make it easier to find notices related to Twitter.