Twitter removes feature that hid 600,000 users from search results

Twitter removed a feature in the algorithm that hid the results of 600,000 accounts from search results. Also, Twitter hid those accounts as users searched for accounts via autocomplete. Among them were politicians.

Twitter’s algorithm filtered out those accounts because of tweets from their followers, reports Twitter director Jack Dorsey. Because of that rule, accounts of politicians also did not surface in this way. That rule has now been removed from the algorithm, so that those 600,000 accounts should be visible again in the search function.

Dorsey stood as a witness before the United States Congress and House of Representatives on Thursday, as did Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg. Google declined to testify. The politicians wanted to question the three tech companies about the possible influence of elections by other countries. In addition, many Republican politicians wanted to ask the tech companies whether they have a preference for Democratic politicians and let that shine through in their services.

The function of Twitter will be oil on the fire for such politicians, now that it appears that Twitter did indeed hide accounts of politicians. Dorsey confirms on Twitter, as in his testimony, that Twitter has no political vision and makes no difference between the various parties in politics. Sandberg said the same on behalf of Facebook.