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Twitter Continues Fight Against Extremist Accounts

The social media giant announced that since it began targeting users threatening or promoting terrorist activities in mid-2015, it has suspended more than 125,000 accounts .

Since Twitter began targeting users threatening or promoting terrorist activities in mid-2015, the social media giant announced announced that it has suspended more than 125,000 accounts. 

In a blog post published the evening of Feb. 5, the company said it remains committed to stopping misuse of the platform.  
 
“Like most people around the world, we are horrified by the atrocities perpetrated by extremist groups. We condemn the use of Twitter to promote terrorism and the Twitter Rules make it clear that this type of behavior, or any violent threat, is not permitted on our service,” the post reads. 
 
The social media group also said it had expanded its review team and would continue to leverage proprietary “spam-fighting” tools to root out violators. 
 
“We have already seen results, including an increase in account suspensions and this type of activity shifting off of Twitter,” the post states.
 
The company said it would continue to partner with outside organizations to combat the extremeist messages, and that it partners with law enforcement when appropriate.
 
“As an open platform for expression," the post reads, "we have always sought to strike a balance between the enforcement of our own Twitter Rules covering prohibited behaviors, the legitimate needs of law enforcement, and the ability of users to share their views freely – including views that some people may disagree with or find offensive."
Eyragon Eidam is the web editor for Government Technology magazine, after previously serving as assistant news editor and covering such topics as legislation, social media and public safety. He can be reached at eeidam@erepublic.com.