Once again, a major social media company has been implicated in a number of unethical practices. Twitter is currently experiencing controversy with an ex-executive of the company alleging a number of security issues have gone unaddressed. Chief among the security threats addressed were misrepresenting the number of fake and bot accounts on the website, possibly due to incentives to increase user totals. The company’s former Head of Security claims their lack of security concern makes the platform vulnerable to foriegn spies, hacking, and disinformation campaigns.
With confirmation of Russian interference in our last election, accounts of people being killed because of conspiracy-theorist advice, and the countless harmful effects of social media on mental health, what should Twitter’s punishment be, if anything, in this matter? How urgent is the need to regulate who or what can post to social media?