Samaritans suspends app amidst fears it could be used to troll vulnerable tweeters
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Samaritans have suspended an online app which alerts people when their contacts on Twitter are feeling down, amid “serious concerns” that it threatened the privacy and safety of Twitter users.
Critics of the Samaritans Radar app, which alerts users if people they follow on Twitter are using phrases like “help me” of “hate myself”, have warned that it could be used by internet trolls to target people.
A petition on the website Change.org, calling on Twitter to suspend the app, has attracted more than 1,200 signatures.
However, the charity said it had suspended the app itself, pending “further consideration”.
In a statement last night, Joe Ferns, executive director of policy research and development said that a “broad range of feedback” had been received, including “serious concerns raised by some people with mental health conditions using Twitter”.
“We are very aware that the range of information and opinion, which is circulating about Samaritans Radar, has created concern and worry for some people and would like to apologise to anyone who has inadvertently been caused any distress,” he said.
The Samaritans had previously responded to criticisms by allowing Twitter users to block their tweets from being monitored by the app.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments