Twitter evaluates its procedures for banning users permanently

Twitter is reviewing its policies around permanently banning users, which could bring its content moderation in line with Elon Musk's vision for the social media platform.

Twitter has been exploring if there are other content moderation tools that could replace a ban, its harshest penalty for violating rules. This comes after Musk pledged changes to the social media platform's content moderation practices in May, shortly after inking a $44 billion deal to buy Twitter.

Musk, who calls himself a free speech absolutist, had also said he would reverse Twitter's ban on former U.S. President Donald Trump. However, any policy change is unlikely to pave the way for Trump's return to the platform since Twitter is not considering reversing bans issued for breaching its policy against inciting violence.

Employees are looking at areas where they feel Twitter may have banned users for lesser offenses, such as sharing misleading information. "Our core tenets — choice and control, transparency, legitimacy, and fairness — have been guiding our work for years, and as the public conversation continues to evolve, our approach will too," the company's spokesperson told Reuters.

Twitter restricted Kanye West's account over the weekend, saying it removed posts by the rapper that online users condemned as anti-Semitic. This highlights the challenges Twitter faces in moderating content, and it will be interesting to see if the company's policies change as a result of its review.