Twitter announced Wednesday that it will suspend accounts that posted images of the video that allegedly showed photojournalist James Foley being beheaded.
Foley was working as a freelance journalist when he was kidnapped in Syria two years ago, and limited news has been released about his whereabouts since then, according to CNET. The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria posted a video on YouTube on Tuesday, claiming it to be Foley's beheading.
The video has since been pulled down by YouTube, and its legitimacy is still being looked at. However, several Twitter users managed to get pictures of the video before it was taken down and post them on the social network.
The decision to suspend these accounts was announced by Dick Costolo, CEO of Twitter, Mashable reported.
"We have been and are actively suspending accounts as we discover them related to this graphic imagery. Thank you," Costolo tweeted.
Twitter has been used as a tool by many Islamic State fighters and supporters to share graphic images and propaganda, while American spy agencies use this as an opportunity to gather intelligence on them.
Fewer rules against violence have been imposed by Twitter than by other social networks, such as Facebook, which doesn't let users promote violence or organizations with a record of violent activity. Google Play's policies also prohibit violence, bullying and hate speech, CNET reported.
However, Twitter has been strongly considering stricter rules lately, announcing Tuesday that it was taking down images and videos of deceased individuals if requests are made by immediate family members or authorized individuals. The company announced the new policy a week after Zelda Williams, daughter of late actor Robin Williams, said she was closing her Twitter account after receiving graphic Photoshopped images of her father.
The social network has emphasized its support for free speech in its rules about content, only suspending accounts when they post "direct, specific threats of violence against others," or break other content rules, Mashable reported.
The decision has also raised questions about the New York Post tweeting an image of its Wednesday cover, which showed Foley shortly before his death. While Twitter users are wondering if the social network should suspend the account, and others have asked Twitter to do so, a Twitter spokesperson said the Post's account will not be suspended.
