Yesterday, Twitter announced the creation of a new "Crisis Misinformation Policy" in an attempt to ensure accurate information reaches users during times of crisis. The policy will come into effect during natural disasters and international armed conflicts, with Twitter wanting to ensure misinformation about these events is not amplified.

People turn to Twitter during crisis times to share news, find support, and stay connected. Today, we’re launching a crisis misinformation policy so Twitter doesn’t recommend or amplify viral, false content that can further harm already vulnerable groups.https://t.co/NyhoGo5RQU

— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) May 19, 2022

Under the policy, Twitter plans to verify information tweeted out during crises with organizations on the ground (including journalists, NGOs and government officials). If the information is deemed false, Twitter will add a warning label that users will need to click through in order to read the flagged tweet.

The platform will also prevent tweets with unverified information from being promoted by its algorithm. Twitter notably said it will not remove any tweets due to this policy.

Twitter introduces new global "crisis misinformation policy" to contain the spread of unauthentic information https://t.co/7kP2vK5unn

— iThinkDifferent – Apple news and guides (@iTDfeed) May 20, 2022

The announcement mentions the war in Ukraine, as well as conflicts in Ethiopia, Afghanistan and India. The sharing of fake news is an international problem and a hot topic, and Twitter’s policies seem specifically targeted to try and eliminate misinformation that might escalate a conflict.

As TwitterSafety</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/yoyoel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">yoyoel move to launch a crisis #misinformation policy to stop the amplification of false narratives online, we compiled some quick numbers that reflect the challenges of #fakenews in #Africa📈🌍#FactsMatter #FactsFirst #factchecking pic.twitter.com/sx39rh5VIs

— Factual Africa (@FactualAfrica) May 20, 2022

The examples given in Twitter's new "crisis misinformation" policy sound like preparation for an escalated or wider war https://t.co/Q5sTDrGsxL pic.twitter.com/xTsM5alSfY

— Joanne Leon (@joanneleon) May 20, 2022

The announcement comes amid Elon Musk’s attempt to purchase Twitter. Musk has stated his motivation for buying Twitter is his view that the platform’s content moderation and anti-misinformation policies pose a threat to free speech.

In a brazen show of contempt for ElonMusk</a>&#39;s free speech agenda, &quot;commie&quot; <a href="https://twitter.com/Twitter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">Twitter announces new policy to censor, vandalize and suppress user tweets. https://t.co/o7ExcgR3hT

— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) May 19, 2022

Many online took issue with the platform’s new rule, suggesting that the intention to regulate misinformation in war zones overseas was actually an attempt to censor speech in the United States.

They Never Learn: #Twitter to Suppress ‘False’, ‘Misleading’ Tweets Under ‘Crisis Misinformation’ Policy: by Bryan Babb at CDN – #Twitter announced Thursday that the company would be implementing a new policy for its users that would focus on making… https://t.co/oSQWMzMfce pic.twitter.com/m8sQtOxwuX

— Conservative Daily News (@CDNPosts) May 19, 2022

Be careful patriots. Twitter has enacted a new “Crisis Misinformation Policy” to further curb anything inconsistent with their own narrative. Seems like they’re trying to enforce Biden’s failed “Disinformation Governance Board” in the twitter-verse. First target is the 🇺🇦/🇷🇺 war.

— Joe Blough (@Patrick_USA_VET) May 20, 2022

Twitter users accused the author of the blog post announcing the Crisis Misinformation Policy, Yoel Roth, of being a conspiracy theorist himself. Conservative publications like the Washington Examiner and the Daily Wire also posted articles criticizing Roth and the new policy.

A man promoting Twitter's new "crisis misinformation" policy has a history of promoting misinformation himself.

https://t.co/G32pcFnkA9

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) May 20, 2022

‘They’re Going To Get Their Ministry Of Truth One Way Or The Other’: Twitter Announces ‘Crisis Misinformation Policy’ https://t.co/9pt8vIhxEa pic.twitter.com/h5sFcge72J

— Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) May 19, 2022

>crisis misinformation policy
So, more censorship to further advance disproven narratives and to aid the communists.

Oh, I am just waiting with excitement for all the soon-to-be-announced firings over at Twitter. pic.twitter.com/L0gkistrZB

— Winter 🧀 獣 (@WinterTheSergal) May 19, 2022

Similar to vocal disapproval over the Biden administration’s Disinformation Governance Board, some online criticism of the new Twitter measure seemed to morph into a campaign against Roth personally, with certain posters making memes and tweets insulting his looks, past statements and ethnicity.

Putting this assclown, Yoel Roth, in charge of "Twitter Integrity" is like putting Casey Anthony in charge of a daycare center. pic.twitter.com/HKPku4L0vz

— LivePDDave 🇺🇸 🚨 🥊 (@LivePDDave1) May 27, 2020

Some memers made the similarity between the two campaigns explicit by posting pictures of Nina Jankowicz, the former executive director of the Disinformation Board.

"Please welcome Twitter's new head of crisis misinformation policy" https://t.co/UzK9Iunimv pic.twitter.com/CmXKJbKuYt

— Extremely Careless (@Shanghaibeast) May 19, 2022

For the time being, the Crisis Misinformation Policy is in place — but its future might be uncertain under a Musk-owned Twitter … if that actually goes through of course.