Twitter responds to coronavirus by banning jokes about it

Social media website Twitter has announced that it is responding to the coronavirus pandemic by banning jokes about it.

The company has announced a list of changes that it is imposing on the users of the platform, including that "description of treatments … which are not immediately harmful but are known to be ineffective, are not applicable to the COVID-19 context, or are being shared with the intent to mislead others, even if made in jest" are being banned.

It's just one of several new bans announced by the company, drawing criticism in a commentary at Gateway Pundit.

"Never let a crisis go to waste," the editorial said. "The tech giant will allow only acceptable and approved language on the coronavirus on their platform. This may appear like a sensible move but is another step forward in banning free speech in America today.

"No more unapproved jokes."

Twitter had explained it wanted to be "open about the challenges we are facing and the contingency measures we're putting in place to serve the public conversation at this critical time."

It cited "trusted partners" from which it will draw its standards.

It said on a company-wide basis workers are working from home, and it will boost the use of "machine learning and automation" to address "potentially abusive and manipulative content."

Then it announced it is "broadening" its definition of "harm."

Under that standard, it will banish comments that reject "global or local health authority recommendations" about COVID-19.

Also, it will not allow those statements "made in jest."

And any rejection of "established scientific facts about transmission."

Also, "Specific claims around COVID-19 information that intends to manipulate people into certain behavior for the gain of a third party with a call to action within the claim, such as 'coronavirus is a fraud and not real - go out and patronize your local bar!!'"

And "unverified" claims such as "The National Guard just announced that no more shipments of food will be arriving for 2 months - run to the grocery store ASAP and buy everything!"

Parody accounts that make statements by "impersonating" a government or health official are banned, as are "propagating false or misleading information."

Platform users also cannot claim that "specific groups, nationalities" are more susceptible.

The company also said it would be making changes to its policies and practices "daily."