Bergkamp demands Twitter to intervene after ‘horrible’ threat tweets to MPs

President of the House Vera Bergkamp has called on Twitter to take action as quickly as possible against threatening and violent tweets directed at members of the House of Representatives. She speaks of “horrible videos and images”.

“I am very concerned about threatening and violent tweets directed at MPs,” said Bergkamp. She penetrates one letter to Twitter to intervene.

The threat tweets use videos and images to call for violence or even murder. “These messages are probably punishable under Dutch law,” Bergkamp writes. The President of the House emphasizes that politicians must be able to express themselves without being confronted with “horrifying threats”.

“I call on you to take immediate action and take serious steps. In order to protect our freedom of expression, it is necessary that Twitter offers users a safe online environment,” said the President of the House.

I am very concerned about threatening and violent tweets directed at MPs. That’s why I ask Twitter @GlobalAffairs to take action against it. Read my letter here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/dMiE0q7QJR

— Vera Bergkamp (@Vera_Bergkamp) May 31, 2023

Less enforcement after Musk takeover

Since the takeover by billionaire Elon Musk last year, Twitter has taken much less action when users break the rules. The policy was relaxed on several points. But inciting or threatening to use violence is still a serious offense under the platform’s guidelines, and accounts guilty of it should be immediately suspended.

After the acquisition, Musk laid off about three-quarters of Twitter’s staff. This also ensures that the platform checks messages less strictly. Twitter also no longer responds to questions from the media under Musk.