On 26 January 2012, Twitter announced that it would begin restricting tweets in specific countries.  Twitter says this will mean that some content can be withheld in specific countries while still being available in the rest of the world.  Critics said the move raised questions about how it will "handle issues of free speech". Twitter have said, that in the interests of transparency, it will work with theInternet freedom group Chilling Effects to disclose when it blocks tweets.

The following is a selection of news reports & comment on Twitter's recent announcement:

Human Rights Due Diligence and the ICT Industry: When Ruggie meets Twitter, Frank Seier, Right2Respect, 20 Feb 2012

Twitter to restrict user content in some countries, Gerry Shih, Reuters, 27 Jan 2012

Twitter will work with Internet freedom group Chilling Effects to disclose when it blocks tweets, Loretta Chao & Amir Efrati, Wall Street Journal, 28 Jan 2012 

Thai Govt. calls Twitter's decision to censor messages in certain countries a "welcome development", Kate Hodal, Guardian (UK), 30 Jan 2012

China State-Run Newspaper Praises Twitter's New Censorship Policy, Sam Gustin, Time Business, 30 Jan 2012

Twitter's Country Specific Censorship May Be Good for Human Rights, Craig Blaha, Technorati, 30 Jan 2012

Twitter CEO: New Policy for Transparency, Not Censoring, Georage Stahl, Wall Street Journal, 31 Jan 2012