Twitter launches fact reporting channel in Taiwan to discourage abuse

Taipei-With Taiwan's presidential and legislative elections just around the corner, a major social platform said Wednesday it has built a fact reporting channel, in cooperation with its Taiwanese partners, to reduce the incidence of verbal abuse on the Internet.

The Taiwan operations of the American microblogging and social networking service Twitter said the platform will allow swift reporting and response to any verbal attacks or irregularities.

As part of the process, Twitter Taiwan said, it has provided training to Central Election Commission personnel and law enforcement authorities on how to use the reporting mechanism.

The mechanism is designed to create an environment for rational online dialogue, reduce the incidence of malicious verbal abuse on the Internet, and protect the fairness of the Jan. 11, 2020 elections in Taiwan, Twitter said.

Posts aimed at manipulating public opinion about political or electoral issues, spreading misinformation that might dissuade people from voting, or rigging the electoral process will not be allowed, Twitter Taiwan said.

Under the new initiative, Twitter Taiwan said, auxiliary measures will also be taken to prevent other irregularities such as data theft and the dissemination of junk information.

In addition, all political advertisements funded by government or media organizations controlled by specific influences will soon be banned, according to the statement.

Twitter said it has helped provide training in the areas of registration, verification and management to officials of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and the major opposition Kuomintang and members of civic groups such as Taiwan Fact Check Center, Alliance for Advancement of Youth Rights and Welfare, and Citizen Congress Watch.

Source: Focus Taiwan News Channel