Twitter Shuts Down 30 Sites Keeping Tabs On Politicians By Publicizing Deleted Tweets
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Twitter has cut off access for 30 sites that keep tabs on politicians by saving their deleted tweets.
The Open State Foundation was informed by the social media network that its access for the U.S., and 29 other countries around the globe for the Politiwoops websites. Politiwoops monitored politicians' Twitter profiles for deleted tweets, and made them visible.
Twitter said it suspended access to Politiwoops after "thoughtful internal deliberation," writing "Imagine how nerve-racking – terrifying, even – tweeting would be if it was immutable and irrevocable?"
Open State Foundation Director Arjan El Fassed wrote in a statement that "What elected politicians publicly say is a matter of public record. Even when tweets are deleted, it's part of parliamentary history."
Politiwoops began at a hackathon in the Netherlands in 2010, and had been a valuable tool for journalists.
