Katie Hopkins suspended from Twitter
Controversial commentator is locked out of her account following complaints
Katie Hopkins has had her Twitter account suspended for violating the terms of the social media site.
The right-wing commentator’s account is still visible online but Twitter said that the controversial Hopkins had been temporarily locked out of the platform for violating its anti-hate policy.
“Keeping Twitter safe is a top priority for us – abuse and harassment have no place on the service,” a spokesperson told the BBC.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“These rules apply to everyone using our service – regardless of the account involved.”
The Guardian says that Hopkins, who came to fame as a contestant on The Apprentice, “regularly tweets pro-Trump, pro-Brexit and anti-immigration messages and has launched a series of attacks on the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan”.
She has more than one million Twitter followers, a number that was boosted after she was retweeted several times by the US president.
The Centre for Countering Digital Hate met Twitter bosses about Hopkins' “ability to use the platform to spread hate”.
Welcoming the suspension, it said: “There is a long road ahead before social media is made safe for dialogue, information exchange and the formation and maintenance of relationships. The fact parents are so hesitant and fearful of allowing children onto social media platforms shows how toxic many of these environments have become.”
The Mirror says the “far-right loudmouth” has suffered quite a fall in recent years. She had her passport confiscated and was prevented from leaving South Africa after being accused of “spreading racial hatred”.
She lost her house after losing a libel case sparked by her falsely accusing anti-poverty campaigner Jack Monroe of vandalising a war memorial. She also lost her LBC show when she called for a “final solution” in the wake of the Manchester bombing, and was ditched as a Sun columnist.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Many of us have warned for years of a rising ecofascist threat in response to climate chaos'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Is this the end of cigarettes?
Today's Big Question An FDA rule targets nicotine addiction
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
A beginner's guide to exploring the Amazon
The Week Recommends Trek carefully — and respectfully — in the world's largest rainforest
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Bluesky: the social media platform causing a mass X-odus
The Explainer Social media platform is enjoying a new influx but can it usurp big rivals?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
What Trump's win could mean for Big Tech
Talking Points The tech industry is bracing itself for Trump's second administration
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Racist texts tell Black people in US to prepare for slavery
Speed Read Recipients in at least a dozen states have been told to prepare to 'pick cotton' on slave plantations
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Pakistan 'gaslighting' citizens over sudden internet slowdown
Under the Radar Government accused of 'throttling the internet' and spooking businesses with China-style firewall, but minister blames widespread use of VPNs
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Threads turns one: where does the Twitter rival stand?
In the Spotlight Although Threads is reporting 175 million active monthly users, it has failed to eclipse X as a meaningful cultural force
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How social media is limiting political content
The Explainer Critics say Meta's 'extraordinary move' to have less politics in users' feeds could be 'actively muzzling civic action'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Elon Musk's running controversies
In Depth The business mogul has a long history in the hot seat
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Last updated
-
Elon Musk's 'frivolous' but precedent-setting free speech fight with Media Matters
Talking Point The lawsuit is just the latest in Musk's ongoing tension with social media watchdogs
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published