Twitter’s decision to ban VOA Chief National Correspondent and JURIST Journalist in Residence Steve Herman is an affront to freedom of the press, Twitter’s professed championing of free speech, and the public good. As a team of law student journalists reporting from 22 countries around the world, we know all too well that self-serving and summarily proclaimed press censorship— imposed by the state or powerful private parties—weakens democracy and undermines the rule of law. Having become one of the web’s largest social media platforms, Twitter is now responsible for ensuring that journalists can keep the globe informed. By banning Herman and other professional reporters, Twitter is arbitrarily blocking the free flow of accurate information on a wide range of issues to the public’s detriment without adequate explanation or process. We urge Twitter to immediately reinstate Herman’s account and to implement robust and transparent policies safeguarding press freedom.

In solidarity with our JURIST Journalist in Residence and the other journalists banned by Twitter, JURIST (@JURISTnews) is pausing all Twitter operations from midnight Friday ET pending a review of our Twitter policy and the satisfactory resolution of this matter.