As news spreads about Donald Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis, many users are expressing their wish for his death.
Social media companies have warned their users that posts with content advocating for the US president to die from COVID-19 will not be allowed on their platforms
After Trump revealed on Thursday that he and his wife, Melania, had tested positive for COVID-19, many people took to social media to wish them a speedy recovery, but there were many others who said they hoped for the opposite. A Facebook spokesperson said on Friday that such posts violate its user policies and will be removed.
"To be clear, Facebook removes death threats or content that directly addresses the president and wishes for his death, including comments on his posts or page – except for content that mentions him," Facebook spokeswoman Liz Bourgeoisin a tweet.
Specifically, Facebook is removing content with death threats or content that directly addresses Trump and promotes his death, including comments on his posts or page – except for content that mentions him.
– @Liz_Shepherd, October 3, 2020
Twitter also followed suit, saying Friday night that "tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm, or terminal illness against *anyone* are not allowed and will be removed. This does not automatically mean suspension."
Tweets that wish or hope for death, serious bodily harm, or terminal illness against *anyone* are not allowed and will be removed. This does not automatically result in a suspension.
– @TwitterComms,October 2, 2020
For some time, Twitter's critics have attacked the social network for a perceived failure to respond quickly and appropriately to reports of offensive tweets and harassment. Twitter's announcement drew immediate criticism from four Democratic congresswomen, known as "The Squad."
Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts have been the targets of threats on the social network and say the company does not enforce its policies consistently when it does not involve Trump, according to CNET.
"It's unacceptable," Tlaib said Friday. "Death threats to us should be taken more seriously by Twitter."
Seriously though, this is unacceptable. Death threats against us should be taken more seriously by @TwitterComms.
– @RashidaTlaib, October 3, 2020
Ocasio-Cortez questioned why this policy didn't apply to them, tweeting: "You mean you could do this all the time?"
Twitter agreed that it had been inconsistent in how it implemented the policy and pledged to do better, and not just for Trump.
“We hear voices that believe we are implementing some policies inconsistently,” Twitter said Saturday. “We agree that we need to do more and we are working together to achieve that.”
We hear the voices that believe we are implementing certain policies inconsistently. We agree that we need to do better and we are working together to do so.
– @TwitterSafety, October 3, 2020
