Twitter is overhauling the way it gives out blue verified badges, and on Wednesday removed them from accounts belonging to at least two prominent white nationalists.
Twitter announced the changes after facing a backlash for giving a verified badge to Jason Kessler, the organizer of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. this summer.
"We're working on a new authentication and verification program," Twitter's Support account tweeted. New guidelines for that program say Twitter will remove a verified badge if an account is found promoting hate or inciting harassment against others.
"We are conducting an initial review of verified accounts and will remove verification from accounts whose behavior does not fall within these new guidelines," Twitter added.
Following the change, Kessler posted on Twitter that the company had sent him a message, alerting him that his verified badge would be permanently removed.
"We're working on a new authentication and verification program," Twitter's Support account tweeted. New guidelines for that program say Twitter will remove a verified badge if an account is found promoting hate or inciting harassment against others.
"We are conducting an initial review of verified accounts and will remove verification from accounts whose behavior does not fall within these new guidelines," Twitter added.
Following the change, Kessler posted on Twitter that the company had sent him a message, alerting him that his verified badge would be permanently removed.
