Twitter Sets New Rules Against Deepfakes Ahead of 2020 Election
Twitter implements a new policy to combat synthetic and manipulated media, using a three-pronged test to determine if content causes harm. The platform plans to label or remove deceptive media to protect voters.
Twitter unveils new rules to tackle deepfakes and manipulated media ahead of the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The platform prohibits users from deceptively sharing synthetic media that is likely to cause harm. Starting March 5, Twitter begins labeling certain tweets that contain altered content to provide users with additional context.
The company applies a three-pronged test to evaluate potentially deceptive media, checking if the content is synthetic, shared deceptively, and likely to cause serious harm. If a piece of media meets all three criteria, Twitter removes it from the platform. Content that meets fewer criteria receives a warning label or links to additional context before users can like or retweet the post.
This broad policy also targets low-tech edits known as "cheapfakes," such as the famously slowed-down video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. By addressing both sophisticated deepfakes and simpler deceptive edits, Twitter aims to curb the spread of election misinformation while navigating ongoing pressure from lawmakers to regulate harmful content.