Twitter suspended a Welsh academic for posting a tweet about Welsh grammar in the Welsh language. The platform claimed that the tweet violated its rules against “hateful conduct.” It really didn’t.
On November 13, Dr. Sara Louise Wheeler, a guest researcher at Wrexham Glyndwr University, posted a harmless tweet about Welsh grammar in the Welsh language.
“I want Welsh that doesn’t need to be corrected,” she tweeted in Welsh. “I’ve tried reading loads of Welsh grammar books over the last twenty years – but I just don’t learn that way.
“But as I said tonight I can remember the songs in performances. Aran Jones is going to try and harness this.”
Shortly after posting, Twitter deleted the tweet and suspended her. In the suspension notice, Twitter said her tweet violated its rules against hateful conduct, adding: “You may not promote violence against, threaten or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability or serious disease.”
Wheeler announced the Twitter suspension on Instagram.
“Suspended in Twitter for tweeting in Welsh about my struggles to learn Welsh grammar,” she wrote.
“Careful my friends, better not talk about Welsh grammar in Welsh on Twitter it’s hateful conduct apparently.”
