After images of journalist’s beheading spread, Twitter creates policy to remove them

Families can request for images to be taken down, though Twitter warns that factors such as newsworthiness will be taken into account.

Ragan Insider Premium Content
Ragan Insider Content

The video and screenshots from it were particularly prevalent on Twitter. Late Tuesday, Twitter announced a new policy:

In order to respect the wishes of loved ones, Twitter will remove imagery of deceased individuals in certain circumstances. Immediate family members and other authorized individuals may request the removal of images or video of deceased individuals, from when critical injury occurs to the moments before or after death, by sending an e-mail to privacy@twitter.com.

Twitter has reportedly been suspending users who have posted violent images from ISIL’s video, which has led some observers to wonder whether news sources that posted photos would be punished, too.

Twitter says it is “actively suspending accounts” posting James Foley beheading images. Will it suspend @nypost? http://t.co/KXDRcyaKeo

To read the full story, log in.
Become a Ragan Insider member to read this article and all other archived content.
Sign up today

Already a member? Log in here.
Learn more about Ragan Insider.