Dutch Warn Against Using Twitter for Emergency Situations

Dutch politicians and a prominent online group emphasized that Twitter is an inappropriate source for seeking information during emergencies. This statement came after citizens were directed to the platform for updates during a significant storm.

“We find it problematic that the government depends on Twitter to share important information,” lawmaker Nico Drost’s office said in an emailed statement to Reuters, citing accessibility, accountability and reliability issues.

Twitter was not immediately available for comment.

The storm, which killed at least one person and felled dozens of trees in the province of North Holland, which includes Amsterdam, was the strongest recorded in the Netherlands during the summer.

The national emergency alert service sent a “push” notification to cellphones warning people in northern Holland to stay indoors in wind gusts of more than 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour) and to follow the regional fire department’s Twitter account for updates.

Several politicians and the digital rights group Bits of Freedom said it was inappropriate because Twitter is a private company and the government has websites set up specifically for crisis communications.

“Using Twitter is ridiculous,” said Bits of Freedom spokesman Ber Engels, referring to problems of disinformation and the fact that it’s difficult for people without an account to quickly reach Twitter. He also noted that the company had recently placed limits on the number of tweets that anyone who hasn’t paid for a subscription can view.

“You might see one tweet with great information about emergency services, but maybe 10 tweets prioritized by Twitter contain completely wrong information,” he said.

The regional fire department’s Twitter account has not been verified. Its latest tweet directs users to a live blog on the city of Amsterdam’s website.

Twitter’s messaging account did not immediately respond to questions. An email sent to Twitter’s press email generated an automated poop emoji response, as announced by its boss Elon Musk earlier this year.