Twitter adds images in private info policy update

Twitter on Tuesday expanded its private information policy to include images and other media, adding to a list of other personally identifiable markers that are taken down from the platform, if misused.

“There are growing concerns about the misuse of media and information that is not available elsewhere online as a tool to harass, intimidate, and reveal the identities of individuals. Sharing personal media, such as images or videos, can potentially violate a person’s privacy, and may lead to emotional or physical harm. The misuse of private media can affect everyone, but can have a disproportionate effect on women, activists, dissidents, and members of minority communities,” the microblogging platform said in a blog post.

Under the new addition, Twitter will now remove media when notified by the individuals in it, or by an authorised representative, that they did not consent to having their private image or video shared.

This is in addition to not allowing the sharing of home address or physical location, contact information, financial account information or other private details.

The policy is not applicable to media featuring public figures or individuals when media and accompanying tweet text are shared in the public interest or add value to public discourse.

“This is in line with the privacy of the people and given that privacy is a fundamental right, they (Twitter) have definitely strengthened their policy,” said Siddharth Jain, co-founding partner, PSL Advocates & Solicitors.

The update however, caused some confusion about the scope of what it covers.

There were many tweets that misinterpreted the update as meaning any image or media shared by an individual would require consent from Twitter. There were also questions about what happens to GIFS or memes that are shared by many people freely on the microblogging platform.

“Since Twitter’s private information and media policy now allows private individuals to report the usage/sharing of their private media (such as images or videos) without their consent, it is possible that private persons may object to the usage of their private media in memes and GIFS,” said Rahul Goel, partner, Anantlaw.

However, the policy provides some breathers, he added. “For instance, if the images/videos have already been shared in mainstream media (in a nonabusive manner) then Twitter is under no obligation to remove the same from its platform. Sharing of images/videos of public figures and private media made available by private individuals themselves are also carved out as non-actionable.”

The policy is not applicable to media featuring public figures or individuals when media/ accompanying tweet are shared in public interest or add value to public discourse