Richard Spencer, White Supremacists Lose Twitter Verification

A week after the ruckus over blue checks on Twitter, the company has updated its policy on verifications and revoked verifications of some white supremacists. Richard Spencer, Jason Kessler and others have lost the blue check marks next to their names. “We are conducting an initial review of verified accounts and will remove verification from accounts whose behavior does not fall within these new guidelines,” the company said. Among the things that could get someone’s verification revoked, according to Twitter’s updated policy: “Promoting hate and/or violence against, or directly attacking or threatening other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or disease.” The company noted that this applies to behavior on and off Twitter. Such activity is also against the company’s broader rules, and could result in the suspension of a Twitter account. Spencer leads the National Policy Institute, which soon after the election of President Donald Trump hosted a Washington convention where attendees gave Nazi salutes.