Twitter CEO: Don’t Worry About Censorship

Twitter users are pretty angry over the company’s new censorship policy. Twitter’s CEO thinks you worry too much. PC Mag is reporting that Twitter’s CEO Dick Costolo spoke Monday evening at the ...
Twitter CEO: Don’t Worry About Censorship
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Twitter users are pretty angry over the company’s new censorship policy. Twitter’s CEO thinks you worry too much.

PC Mag is reporting that Twitter’s CEO Dick Costolo spoke Monday evening at the “Dive Into Media” conference hosted by All Things D. He spoke extensively on their censorship policy hoping to put the public at ease.

Costolo says that the new policy “will simply allow the company to transparently deal with valid government requests to remove certain content.” He goes on to say that the company didn’t go looking to implement this new policy, but rather it was a reactionary move.

He said that there has been “no change in our stance or attitude or policy with respect to content on Twitter.” The company believes that they are doing the right thing when it comes to dealing with issues operating in certain countries. He added that they need this policy to continue operating in certain countries, like Thailand.

He denied the rumors that the company implemented the policy to get into China.

“I don’t think the current environment in China is one which we think we could operate. We would love for people in China to be able to use Twitter the way we want them to be able to use it, which is speaking freely and letting their voices to be heard by as many people around the world as possible, we would love that.”

As for other topics, Costolo touched upon the idea that 2012 is going to be the year of the Twitter election. He points to the presidential candidates using Twitter and users of the social media site letting out a “collective groan” when Obama made that terrible spilled milk joke during his State of the Union address as examples.

He finally addressed Twitter’s potential IPO by saying that they won’t be going public just yet, instead focusing on the business at hand.

“We are going to be really patient about the way we build the business. We are trying to build a decades-long, lasting business.”

When directly asked about an IPO for Twitter in the future, he said, “I choose not to answer that question.”

The full interview is below for your viewing pleasure:

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