Twitter has begun to remove the “verified” blue tick from accounts belonging to prominent white supremacists.
It comes after criticism that Jason Kessler, organiser of a neo-Nazi rally in Virginia that left a woman dead, gained official status on the social network.
Twitter said the removal of verified status was designed to dispel claims that verified users were “endorsed” by them.
It comes after several high profile cases, including the removal of the tick from right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos, a week before banning him completely, after he incited his online followers to troll Ghosbusters actress Leslie Jones.
Twitter lists behaviour that can lead to loss of verified status as including “posting shocking imagery and promoting hate”.
The tick symbol was originally meant to show others that a person, such as a celebrity, politician or sports star, owned the account but since last year anyone was allowed to apply for it.
A Twitter spokesman said: “We are conducting an initial review of verified accounts and will remove verification from accounts whose behaviour does not fall within these new guidelines.
“Verification has long been perceived as an endorsement.
“We gave verified accounts visual prominence on the service which deepened this perception.
“This perception became worse when we opened up verification for public submissions and verified people who we in no way endorse.”
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