Dutch Officials Say Twitter Isn't Fit for Emergency Communications After Storm

Following an event in which residents were led to the platform for updates during a severe storm, Dutch lawmakers and a prominent online organisation stated on Wednesday that Twitter is not the ideal place to seek information during an emergency.

"We find it problematic that the government relies on Twitter to share critical information," MP Nico Drost's office said in an emailed statement to Reuters, noting difficulties with accessibility, accountability, and dependability.

Twitter could not be reached for comment right away.

The storm, which killed at least one person and uprooted hundreds of trees in the province of North Holland, which contains Amsterdam, was the most powerful in the Netherlands this summer on record.

The national emergency alert system sent a "push" signal to smartphones in North Holland, advising residents to stay indoors in the face of wind gusts of more than 120 kilometres per hour (75 miles per hour), and to monitor the area fire department's Twitter account for updates.

Several legislators and the digital rights organisation Bits of Freedom claimed it was inappropriate, considering that Twitter is a private corporation and the government has crisis communication platforms.

"It's ridiculous to use Twitter," Bits of Freedom spokeswoman Ber Engels said, noting issues with disinformation and Twitter's difficulty in reaching individuals without accounts rapidly. He also mentioned that the firm has lately set limitations on the amount of tweets that anybody who hasn't paid for a membership may access.

"You might see one tweet with great information from emergency services, but Twitter may prioritise ten tweets that contain completely false information," he warned.

The Twitter account of the regional fire department is not verified. Its most recent tweet connects viewers to a live blog posted on the website of the City of Amsterdam.

Twitter's communication account did not reply promptly to queries. An email to Twitter's press email account elicited an automated poop emoji response, in accordance with Elon Musk's declaration earlier this year.