Tag: Twitter

Almost half a million explicitly antisemitic tweets per year

The Woolf Institute estimate there to be nearly two antisemitic tweets for every Jewish person in the UK

Analysis of data by the Woolf Institute, a global leader on interfaith relations, is presented in a new report by the Antisemitism Policy Trust and the Community Security Trust, which marks the end of an 18-month research programme to study the extent and nature of antisemitism online.

The report presents an estimate of the level of antisemitism on Twitter in the UK and based on research methods used, Woolf Institute analysis concludes there are between 100 and 1,350 explicitly antisemitic tweets every day in the UK. 

The findings estimate that there are up to 495,000 explicitly antisemitic tweets per year made viewable for UK users (tweets in English by and available to UK users). Given the size of the UK’s Jewish population at around 290,000 people, the report calculates there to be nearly two antisemitic tweets annually for every Jewish person in the UK. 

The Antisemitism Policy Trust, supported by the Community Security Trust, commissioned the Woolf Institute to explore anti-Jewish hatred on Google, Instagram and Twitter, and this publication represents the third and final instalment of that project.

The two previous reports found that Google’s public facing Safesearch facility has no impact on the amount of antisemitic content that is returned when people search for jokes about Jews.

Antisemitism is also extensive on Instagram, associated with a “chaotic” trolling phenomenon on the platform, and demonstrates strong links to conspiracy theories and anti-Israel attitudes. 

Danny Stone MBE, Chief Executive, Antisemitism Policy Trust, says: “Policies to deal with online abuse aren’t worth the paper they’re written on if companies cannot effectively enforce them.

“This new report makes it crystal clear that Twitter’s systems for discovering and acting against anti-Jewish racism still aren’t good enough. As the Government considers new internet safety laws, I hope this report will weigh heavily on Minister’s minds.”

Dr. Dave Rich, Director of Policy, Community Security Trust, says: “It has long been known that social media is the engine of modern antisemitism, and it increasingly features in the antisemitic incidents that are reported to CST.

“This new research not only demonstrates how widespread this is, but also shows exactly how the social media companies are failing to control the problem of anti-Jewish hatred on their platforms.”

Commenting on the overall findings, Dr Julian Hargreaves, Director of Research at the Woolf Institute, who has led the project, said: “Taken together, this series identifies and underlines that antisemitism persists on major social media platforms, and that either the tools for addressing it are not fit-for-purpose, or the public policies professed by the world’s leading social media giants are at best, poorly enforced and at worst, are completely ineffectual.

“Our reports identify that the systems – be they Safesearch, algorithms, or automated moderation are not doing their job. If antisemitism online and within our societies is to be effectively tackled and reduced, we will need platforms, in this instance acting as agents of harm, to better understand and to act upon what the evidence is clearly telling them.”

Using social media data analysis tools, the team were able to identify biographical and geographical characteristics of Twitter users posting tweets which matched the antisemitism research terms. 

The top 10 geographical locations were London, Manchester, Redcar, Liverpool, Glasgow, Brighton, north-west Leicestershire, Oxford, Birmingham, and Edinburgh.

APT-Twitter-Report-2021-Draft-3Download

The full report on Twitter is available at https://antisemitism.org.uk/research-reports/

The Google and Instagram reports are available at: https://antisemitism.org.uk/research-reports/

For more information on the Woolf Institute visit: https://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk

For information about the Antisemitism Policy Trust visit: https://antisemitism.org.uk

For information about the Community Security Trust visit https://cst.org.uk

Tweet Yourself a Book Deal!

XpoNorth Tweet Pitch returns on Friday 15th January

If you have always dreamed of having your very own book published, 280 characters could be all that is standing between you and securing a literary agent to make your dream a reality.

Now entering its sixth year, the XpoNorth Writers’ Tweet Pitch returns on Friday 15 January 2021 to give writers from across Scotland the chance to pitch their work to a panel of Scotland’s literary agents and publishers.

From 9am to 9pm on Friday 15 January, writers of all levels from across Scotland can tweet pitch their work to top Scottish literary agents and publishers including Jenny Brown, Birlinn, Sandstone Press, Canongate, Floris Books and Saraband simply using #XpoNorth to be in with the chance of a book deal. Completed work or projects still in development from all genres including fiction, non-fiction and children’s writing and illustration will be considered from writers living and working in Scotland. The only requirement is that the work must be unpublished.

The panel of esteemed agents and publishers will review all tweet pitches in real time and will contact the author directly to find out more or make a deal to represent or publish their work.

Produced by XpoNorth and the Association of Scottish Literary Agents, last year’s Tweet Pitch was a trending topic throughout the day with over a thousand direct pitches and reaching more than 650,000 people.

Over the past five years, the project has turned numerous applicants in to published authors including author of Scottish historical and eco-fiction for children, Barbara Henderson; picture book author and illustrator, Corrina Campbell; author of This Golden Fleece – A Journey Through Britain’s Knitted History, Esther Rutter and Leonie Charlton who successfully had Marram published this year by Sandstone Press.

Jenny Brown, Co-Chair of the Association of Scottish Literary Agents said: “The Tweet Pitch gives everyone in Scotland the chance to pitch their ideas to Scotland’s agents and publishers.

“This year, alongside fiction, I’m hoping to see more memoirs, not celebrity biographies, but extraordinary and well-told stories from ordinary people which give insight into their lives, be they care workers, vets, shop owners,  firefighters, or mountain rescuers. 

“One of the most successful memoirs I’ve represented is Shaun Bythell’s Diary of a Bookseller about his experiences running a bookshop in Wigtown. It’s now been translated into 25 languages.  I’d love to find more memoirs which shed light onto experiences and ways of life we know little about.”

Peter Urpeth, Publishing Sector Specialist Advisor at XpoNorth said: “The annual Tweet Pitch has become a very important and unique part of Scotland’s writing and publishing calendar and provides a key moment of open access for Scotland’s writers to the nation’s amazing literary agents and publishers. 

“This year more than any other I would say if you have not tried this approach try it now, and that’s especially true of writers in communities who might feel that professional publishing is not open to them. This platform enables a pitch to a very wide range of different editorial needs and tastes, and all at the same time.

“We all know that so many events for authors and for the writing development process have been a victim of the pandemic. But many of us have also witnessed and benefitted from the incredible energy and commitment that the community of writers, writing agencies, agents and publishers in Scotland have shown to each other and to the cause of just keeping going. 

“We’ve also seen the immense role that stories, books and all forms of creative narrative whether for escape, for connection or for truth and deep realism have played in getting many of us through these difficult times.

“The tweet pitch is that first moment in the new Year when we connect again, when we try and when we hope, and when we take that vital step of promoting our work. That energy is at the heart of the Tweet Pitch day.”

Aspiring authors keen to learn more about how to make the perfect tweet pitch should visit www.xponorth.co.uk 

Donald Trump permanently suspended from Twitter

Following Thursday’s scenes at the Capitol, twitter made the following statement on Friday:

After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them — specifically how they are being received and interpreted on and off Twitter — we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence. 

In the context of horrific events this week, we made it clear on Wednesday that additional violations of the Twitter Rules would potentially result in this very course of action. Our public interest framework exists to enable the public to hear from elected officials and world leaders directly. It is built on a principle that the people have a right to hold power to account in the open. 

However, we made it clear going back years that these accounts are not above our rules entirely and cannot use Twitter to incite violence, among other things. We will continue to be transparent around our policies and their enforcement. 

The below is a comprehensive analysis of our policy enforcement approach in this case.

Overview

On January 8, 2021, President Donald J. Trump Tweeted:

“The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!”

Shortly thereafter, the President Tweeted:

“To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.”

Due to the ongoing tensions in the United States, and an uptick in the global conversation in regards to the people who violently stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, these two Tweets must be read in the context of broader events in the country and the ways in which the President’s statements can be mobilized by different audiences, including to incite violence, as well as in the context of the pattern of behavior from this account in recent weeks.

After assessing the language in these Tweets against our Glorification of Violence policy, we have determined that these Tweets are in violation of the Glorification of Violence Policy and the user @realDonaldTrump should be immediately permanently suspended from the service.

Assessment

We assessed the two Tweets referenced above under our Glorification of Violence policy, which aims to prevent the glorification of violence that could inspire others to replicate violent acts and determined that they were highly likely to encourage and inspire people to replicate the criminal acts that took place at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

This determination is based on a number of factors, including:

  • President Trump’s statement that he will not be attending the Inauguration is being received by a number of his supporters as further confirmation that the election was not legitimate and is seen as him disavowing his previous claim made via two Tweets (1, 2) by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Dan Scavino, that there would be an “orderly transition” on January 20th.
  • The second Tweet may also serve as encouragement to those potentially considering violent acts that the Inauguration would be a “safe” target, as he will not be attending. 
  • The use of the words “American Patriots” to describe some of his supporters is also being interpreted as support for those committing violent acts at the US Capitol.
  • The mention of his supporters having a “GIANT VOICE long into the future” and that “They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!” is being interpreted as further indication that President Trump does not plan to facilitate an “orderly transition” and instead that he plans to continue to support, empower, and shield those who believe he won the election. 
  • Plans for future armed protests have already begun proliferating on and off-Twitter, including a proposed secondary attack on the US Capitol and state capitol buildings on January 17, 2021. 

As such, our determination is that the two Tweets above are likely to inspire others to replicate the violent acts that took place on January 6, 2021, and that there are multiple indicators that they are being received and understood as encouragement to do so.

Now also facing impeachment, just how the outgoing President will respond remains to be seen – but it certainly won’t be on Twitter!

Social media giants agree package of measures with UK Government to tackle vaccine disinformation

  • Platforms endorse the principle that no company should be profiting from COVID-19 vaccine mis/disinformation and commit to swifter responses to flagged content
  • Platforms will step up work with public health bodies to promote factual and reliable messages

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden and Health Secretary Matt Hancock have agreed with social media platforms new measures to limit the spread of vaccine misinformation and disinformation and help people find the information they need about any COVID-19 vaccine.

At a virtual roundtable to address the growth of vaccine disinformation, Facebook, Twitter and Google committed to the principle that no company should profit from or promote COVID-19 anti-vaccine disinformation, to respond to flagged content more swiftly, and to work with authorities to promote scientifically accurate messages.

As the UK moves closer to developing a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine, Mr Dowden and Mr Hancock used the roundtable to welcome the progress these companies have made in strengthening their policies towards false coronavirus information and helping publicise the steps people should take to prevent the spread of the virus.

But the ministers raised concerns about the length of time misleading and false information about coronavirus vaccines remains on platforms, and called for swifter action to tackle such content.

Together the platforms have now agreed:

  • To commit to the principle that no user or company should directly profit profit from COVID-19 vaccine mis/disinformation. This removes an incentive for this type of content to be promoted, produced and be circulated.
  • To ensure a timely response to mis/disinformation content flagged to them by the government.
  • To continue to work with public health bodies to ensure that authoritative messages about vaccine safety reach as many people as possible.
  • To join new policy forums over the coming months to improve responses to mis/disinformation and to prepare for future threats.

The forums will see the government, social media platforms, public health bodies and academia increase their cooperation and ongoing information sharing to deliver a better understanding of the evolving threat caused by false COVID-19 vaccine narratives.

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Covid disinformation is dangerous and could cost lives. While social media companies are taking steps to stop it spreading on their platforms there is much more that can be done.

“So I welcome this new commitment from social media giants not to profit from or promote flagged anti-vax content, given that making money from this dangerous content would be wrong.”

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “After clean water, vaccination is the most effective public health intervention in the world and has saved countless lives across the globe, eradicating one disease entirely.

“I am encouraged that social media companies have agreed to do more to prevent the spread of dangerous misinformation and disinformation on their platforms.

“We want users to have greater access to reliable and scientifically-accurate information on vaccines from trusted sources like the NHS so they can make informed decisions to protect themselves and their loved ones.”

Vaccines are overwhelmingly safe and effective healthcare solutions. Ministers used the meeting, which also included representatives from fact-checking charities, academics and data experts, to highlight that robust action must be taken against misleading messaging and content online which could harm and discourage people from protecting themselves or their loved ones.

Throughout the pandemic the government’s Counter Disinformation Unit has been developing a picture of the extent, scope and reach of disinformation and working with online platforms to ensure appropriate action is taken.

The unit has observed a range of false narratives about coronavirus vaccines across multiple platforms, including widespread misuse of scientific findings and baseless claims challenging the safety of vaccines or plans for their deployment.

Ronan Harris, Google UK Managing Director, said: “Since the beginning of the covid-19 epidemic, we have worked relentlessly to promote authoritative content from the NHS and to fight misinformation.

“In the last few months, we have continued to update our policies to make sure that content contradicting scientific consensus about the virus is swiftly removed and demonetised.

“Today, we are redoubling our commitment to take effective action against covid vaccine misinformation and to continue to work with partners across Government and industry to make sure people in the UK have easy access to helpful and accurate Information.”

Katy Minshall, Head of UK Public Policy, Twitter UK, said: “We are focused on protecting the public conversation and helping people find authoritative information on Twitter – in May 2019, we launched a search prompt that serves people with credible vaccine information from the NHS.

“In January this year, we launched a dedicated COVID-19 search prompt, ensuring that when people come to the service for information, they’re met with authoritative, public health information first. To date, over 160 million people have visited the Twitter COVID-19 curated page, over two billion times.

Since introducing COVID misinformation policies in March, and as we’ve doubled down on tech, our automated systems have challenged millions of accounts which were targeting discussions around COVID-19 with spammy or manipulative behaviours.

“We remain committed to combating misinformation about COVID-19, and continue to take action on accounts that violate our Rules. We look forward to continued collaboration with government and industry partners in our work towards improving the health of the public conversation.

Rebecca Stimson, Facebook’s Head of UK Public Policy, said: “We’re working closely with governments and health authorities to stop harmful misinformation from spreading on our platforms.

“Ads that include vaccine hoaxes or discourage people from getting a vaccine are banned, we remove harmful misinformation about Covid-19 and put warning labels over posts marked as false by third party fact checkers.

“We’re also connecting people to accurate information about vaccines and Covid-19 whenever they search for these topics. In the first months of the pandemic we directed more than 3.5 million visits to official advice from the NHS and UK government and we’re pleased to continue to support public health efforts.”

BrewDog’s tongue-in-cheek ALD IPA hits Aldi shelves

  • Supermarket Aldi launched BrewDog’s ‘ALD IPA’ in stores on 15th October
  • The brand was created during a Twitter exchange between the two companies after shoppers drew similarities between Aldi’s Anti-Establishment Beer and BrewDog’s Punk IPA
  • For every case bought, both BrewDog and Aldi will donate a tree to BrewDog’s Forest, supporting the brewer’s commitment to reducing carbon and fighting climate change

Craft beer fans will be heading to Aldi after the supermarket revealed it will be stocking ALD IPA, a beer born out of Twitter banter between best-selling independent brewer, BrewDog and the leading supermarket. No, you’re not reading that with your beer goggles on!

The eponymous beer was first created as a joke tweet after shoppers commented on the resemblance between Aldi’s Anti-Establishment beer and BrewDog’s popular Punk IPA. BrewDog initially suggested it would create ‘Yaldi IPA’ in a mocking social media post.

However, the supermarket, which is known for its ‘Like brands’ approach, responded with: ‘We would have gone with ALD IPA, send us a crate and we’ll talk…’[1] The crate must have done the trick, because now just two months on, what started as a spoof brand is being sold exclusively at Aldi stores!

The brew-tiful ALD IPA will be available as a Specialbuy from Thursday 15th October and is BrewDog’s first ever exclusive creation for a supermarket. A 4.7% session IPA, it is based on BrewDog’s beloved Hop Fiction recipe and will cost just £1.39 per can.

The humorous Twitter exchange that sparked the creation of this beer was followed with anticipation by tens of thousands of people[2]. As the conversation unraveled, it was decided that for every case sold, Aldi and BrewDog will each donate a tree to be planted in the BrewDog Forest located in the Scottish highlands. BrewDog announced earlier this year that it is now a ‘carbon negative’ business as it takes twice as much carbon out of the air as it emits.

Graham Nicolson, Group Buying Director Aldi Scotland, says: “We couldn’t resist stocking ALD IPA, which supports our mission to work with the UK’s best independent suppliers.

“Plus, with customer enquiries through the roof after the conversation broke on Twitter – it really was a no brainer to give our shoppers what they want.”

James Watt, co-Founder of BrewDog comments: “Ald IPA has been one of our favourite collaborations to date, it’s definitely one no one saw coming! From a mockup on Twitter, to being stocked at Aldi stores across the UK, the response has been incredible. 

“Most importantly, both BrewDog and Aldi have agreed that for every case sold an extra tree will be planted in the BrewDog Forest. A win-win for our customers, and the planet!”

For those that fancy themselves a bit of a hop-head and want to get their hands on ALD IPA, head to Aldi stores now to pick up a can. Shoppers will need to get in there quick though – as with all Specialbuys, once they’re gone, they’re gone!

Hot dog: Diesel shows off his doggles as he launches Twitter account

The SFRS search and rescue dog will tell followers how he works and trains to keep communities safe

SCOTLAND’s hottest fire dog is set to go viral today with the launch of his own Twitter account.Diesel – filmed here in protective “doggles” and booties – will tell his fans about how he works to protect Scotland’s communities.

And it is expected the Springer Spaniel will further assist the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to reach out to followers with safety advice.

Diesel’s expertise is also called upon at major disasters around the world where he has used his outstanding urban search and rescue skills to locate casualties in collapsed buildings.

Deputy Chief Officer Iain Bushell said: “There is no doubt whatsoever that Diesel is the hottest looking search and rescue dog in Scotland with his doggles and his booties.

“But these pieces of equipment are absolutely vital to protect this outstanding and highly valued member of our team.

“They enable Diesel to enter some of the most hostile environments, not only reaching casualties but helping protect his firefighter colleagues as they work in risk zones.

“It is crucial that we have this capability as the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service enhances wherever possible its response to major incident and also seeks to transform to meet modern risks such as terror attack.”

He added: “It is clear that Diesel is held in the very highest regard not only by ourselves but by the Scottish public – he is indeed a very good boy.

“I am therefore delighted that he is being given a platform to outline his fantastic work, key safety advice and even a picture with his beloved play ball – the only reward he ever asks in return … although I think he’ll now be looking for a follow on twitter too.”

Diesel is a vital member of the SFRS Urban Search and Rescue’s (USAR) National Response and is deployed anywhere across Scotland with his dedicated handler, Gary Carroll.

The pair are also part of a specialised UK International Search and Rescue (UKISAR) team which can be mobilised across the world at a moments’ notice.

They assisted at the devastating Nepal earthquake which sadly claimed the lives of thousands of people and injured countless others.

It is therefore vital that Diesel – who can travel by helicopter to carry out search and rescue missions across Scotland or abroad –  is kitted out with protective equipment.

The doggles help to shield his eyes from dust and debris thrown up by landing and hovering aircraft while the special booties protect his paws from rubble and glass as he searches collapsed buildings.

Diesel And Gary Rubble Pile 3

SFRS K9 handler Gary is a Crew Manager based at Portlethen, Aberdeenshire. He said: “We are a single service providing an unrestricted response to emergencies occurring anywhere in Scotland – and beyond – if requested to assist.

“Diesel and I have worked together for many years in some of the most challenging environments, and there is no doubt whatsoever that he is integral to that response.

“We have an incredible bond and he is a very special wee dog – and to the point where we think he really does deserve his own dedicated online account.

“It will provide everyone with a real insight into not only how he is trained and his serious capability but also how he likes to spend some down time playing with his ball.”

Follow Diesel on twitter by searching @SFRSdog