Organization: Twitter Inc.

Year: 2019

Whereas: WHEREAS: Twitter faces continued global controversy regarding Russia's reported interference in U.S. elections and the distribution by users of disinformation and hate speech that can threaten marginalized groups and undermine democracy. Shareholders are concerned that Twitter's failure to proactively address these issues has created regulatory, legal, and reputational risks. We believe Twitter has an obligation to demonstrate how it governs content to prevent violations of its terms of service. The Company's content governance policies appear to lack a strategic approach. For example, in August 2018, even after Apple, Facebook, and YouTube banned conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, CEO Jack Dorsey defended a decision to permit Jones to remain on Twitter despite suspending Jones for inciting violence. One month later, Twitter banned Jones after he allegedly harassed other users. Twitter's policy against fact-checking fake news also remains a serious controversy. In the lead-up to the 2018 U.S. midterm elections, Oxford University researchers said Twitter had 5 percent more false content than during the 2016 American presidential election. A 2018 Amnesty International report ("Toxic Twitter'') concluded that "for many women, Twitter is a platform where violence and abuse against them flourishes, often with little accountability." The report said Twitter was "inadequately investigating and responding to reports of violence and abuse in a transparent manner." And while Twitter has announced a new "dehumanizing speech" policy, the efficacy of the policy is unclear. In September 2018 CEO Dorsey told a Senate committee there will be "massive shifts" in how Twitter and other social media companies operate when attempting to stop election interference and deceptive messages. "We need to question the fundamental incentives that are in our product today," Dorsey said. Twitter shares fell as much as 6.7 percent as he testified. After Dorsey's testimony to Congress in September, lawmakers wrote to Dorsey, noting: "we remain concerned that Twitter's policies and terms of service, which should safeguard against [racially divisive content and misinformation] are vague and inconsistently applied."

Resolved: Resolved: Shareholders request Twitter issue a report to shareholders, at reasonable cost, omitting proprietary or legally privileged information, reviewing the efficacy of its enforcement of its terms of service related to content policies and assessing the risks posed by content governance controversies (including election interference, fake news, hate speech and sexual harassment) to the company's finances, operations and reputation.

Supporting Statement:SUPPORTING STATEMENT: Proponents recommend the report include assessment of the scope of platform abuses, impacts on free speech, and address related ethical concerns.