Twitter bans sharing 'private' images and videos without consent

Twitter has expanded its private information policy to include media, meaning that users are not allowed to share photos or videos of a private individual without their permission. The company notes that tweeting images of someone without consent can violate their privacy and potentially lead to harm against them.

Beginning today, we will not allow the sharing of private media, such as images or videos of private individuals without their consent. Publishing people's private info is also prohibited under the policy, as is threatening or incentivizing others to do so.https://t.co/7EXvXdwegG

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) November 30, 2021

The Twitter Safety team wrote in a blog post that although anyone can be impacted by private media being shared, it "can have a disproportionate effect on women, activists, dissidents, and members of minority communities." If someone reports a photo or video that violates the policy, Twitter will remove the media and take action based on its enforcement options. Those include downranking the visibility of the tweet in replies and search results or telling the person who posted it to delete the tweet. Twitter also has the right to permanently suspend users who violate the policy.

There are some exceptions to the policy. It doesn't cover private media of public figures or others if a photo or video, and the text in the tweet, "are shared in the public interest or add value to public discourse." In other words, if it's newsworthy, Twitter will allow the media in question to remain on the platform. That said, if the goal of sharing private photos or videos of public figures "or individuals who are part of public conversations is to harass, intimidate, or use fear to silence them," Twitter might remove the media. The abusive behavior and non-consensual nudity (i.e. revenge porn) policy still apply to public figures.

Twitter previously prohibited users from sharing private information about other people, such as their addresses, phone numbers, ID or financial information (in other words, doxing someone). It also doesn't allow people to intimidate others by threatening to release such details. The company says it will start enforcing the private image rule starting today and that the new measure is part of its work to bring its safety policies in line with human rights standards.

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