Our range of enforcement options

We can take action at the Tweet, Direct Message, and account levels, and sometimes employ a combination of these enforcement actions. In some instances, this is because the behavior violates the Twitter Rules. Other times, it may be in response to a valid and properly scoped request from an authorized entity in a given country. Below are a range of enforcement options that we may exercise when conducting a review.

Tweet-level enforcement

We take action on Tweets that violate our policies, yet on some rare occasions we come across content that we believe is in the public interest to remain accessible on our service. 

Via Twitter for iOS and Android, and mobile.twitter.com, we’ll place a Tweet behind an interstitial if it violates our rules, and its availability is deemed of public interest. Hiding the Tweet behind a notice gives you the option to view it if you wish. This does not mean that Twitter condones the content.  

In order to reduce the spread of potential harm, Tweets that are of public interest will not be available in the following areas of Twitter:

• Tweets in the “Top Tweets” Home timeline
• Safe search
  
• Recommendations via push and Notifications tab
• Email and text recommendations
• Live event timeline
• Explore tab

Additionally, we take action at the Tweet level to ensure that we are not being overly harsh with an otherwise healthy account that made a mistake and violated our Rules. A few of the ways in which we might take action at the Tweet level include:

Limiting Tweet visibility: This makes content less visible on Twitter, in search results, replies, and on timelines. Limiting Tweet visibility depends on a number of signals about the nature of the interaction and the quality of the content.

Requiring Tweet removal: When we determine that a Tweet violated the Twitter Rules, we require the violator to remove it before they can Tweet again. We send an email notification to the violator identifying the Tweet(s) in violation and which policies have been violated. They will then need to go through the process of removing the violating Tweet or appealing our review if they believe we made an error.

Hiding a violating Tweet while awaiting its removal: In the interim period between when Twitter takes enforcement action and the person removes the Tweet, we hide that Tweet from public view and will replace the original content with a notice stating that the Tweet is no longer available because it violated our Rules. Additionally, this notice will be available for 14 days after Tweet removed.

Where this notice is available:

• The details page of the Tweet in violation on Twitter for iOS and Android, and mobile.twitter.com.
• The profile page of the account in violation on Twitter for iOS and Android, and mobile.twitter.com.

Where this notice is not available:

• Areas outside of profiles and Tweet details pages, such as Home timeline, notifications, and search of any Twitter client.
• Anywhere on twitter.com.

Direct Message-level enforcement

Stopping conversations between a reported violator and the reporter’s account: In a private Direct Message conversation, when a participant reports the other person, we will stop the violator from sending messages to the person who reported them. The conversation will also be removed from the reporter's inbox. However, if the reporter decides to continue to send Direct Messages to the violator, the conversation will resume.

Placing a Direct Message behind an interstitial: In a group Direct Message conversation, the violating Direct Message may be placed behind an interstitial to ensure no one else in the group can see it again.

Account-level enforcement

We take action at the account level if we determine that a person has violated the Twitter Rules in a particularly egregious way, or has repeatedly violated them even after receiving notifications from us.

Requiring media or profile edits: If an account’s profile or media content is not compliant with our policies, we may make it temporarily unavailable and require that the violator edit the media or information in their profile to come into compliance. We also explain which policy their profile or media content has violated.

Placing an account in read-only mode: If it seems like an otherwise healthy account is in the middle of an abusive episode, we might temporarily make their account read-only, limiting their ability to Tweet, Retweet, or Like content until calmer heads prevail. The person can read their timelines and will only be able to send Direct Messages to their followers.

When an account is in read-only mode, others will still be able to see and engage with the account. The duration of this enforcement action can range from 12 hours to 7 days, depending on the nature of the violation.

Verifying account ownership: To ensure that violators do not abuse the anonymity we offer and harass others on the platform, we may require the account owner to verify ownership with a phone number or email address. This also helps us identify violators who are operating multiple accounts for abusive purposes and take action on such accounts. Note that when an account has been locked pending completion of a challenge (such as being required to provide a phone number), it is removed from follower counts, Retweets, and likes until it provides a phone number.

Permanent suspension: This is our most severe enforcement action. Permanently suspending an account will remove it from global view, and the violator will not be allowed to create new accounts. When we permanently suspend an account, we notify people that they have been suspended for abuse violations, and explain which policy or policies they have violated and which content was in violation.

Violators can appeal permanent suspensions if they believe we made an error. They can do this through the platform interface or by filing a report. Upon appeal, if we find that a suspension is valid, we respond to the appeal with information on the policy that the account has violated.

Actions we may take against non-violating content

Placing a Tweet behind an interstitial: We may place some forms of sensitive media like adult content or graphic violence behind an interstitial advising viewers to be aware that they will see sensitive media if they click through. This allows us to identify potentially sensitive content that some people may not wish to see. Learn more about how to control whether you see sensitive media.

Withholding a Tweet or account in a country: We may withhold access to certain content in a particular country if we receive a valid and properly scoped request from an authorized entity in that country. We also clearly indicate within the product when content has been withheld. Read more about country withheld content.