A former Twitter lawyer is testing a new mode of content moderation — and if he can get away with calling it Twitter

A former Twitter lawyer has launched a social network called Twitter.now, aiming to test a novel approach to content moderation. Stephen Coates, who previously held the roles of head counsel for trademarks, domain names, and marketing at Twitter, unveiled the platform through Operation Bluebird. This startup is experimenting with a unique moderation system where users, rather than the company's central algorithm, determine the extent of potentially false or harmful content that reaches their feeds.

Coates explained that the platform utilizes a VERA AI system to assess posts, verify claims, provide sources and context, and assign a trust score to the content. In the future, users could set a minimum trust score, filtering out posts that fall below their personal threshold. For instance, when a political leader spreads false statements, users could configure the platform to exclude those claims from their feeds without banning the politician.

This concept allows for a personalized level of harmful, adult, or untruthful content in users' feeds.

The new platform faces challenges in a competitive market with numerous would-be X rivals, all grappling with the issue of content moderation. Previous attempts, such as Bluesky, have also encountered moderation-related criticism. Studies suggest that engagement-driven algorithms often promote outrage and sensationalism. Coates sees this as a grand experiment, aiming to build a better solution and determine if users will adopt it.

Since Musk's acquisition of Twitter in 2022, the platform has seen a loosening of earlier moderation practices and the reinstatement of previously banned users. Musk announced a general amnesty for suspended accounts that had not violated laws or engaged in egregious spam, following a user poll. Despite the challenges, Coates remains optimistic, stating that they aim to create a better platform and test whether users will embrace it.

Currently, Twitter.now operates as a limited web app with only a few hundred users, and a $20 subscription provides early access and the opportunity to claim a preferred handle. However, trademark uncertainty remains a hurdle, as X sued Operation Bluebird for trademark and copyright infringement, arguing that the startup infringed on its trademarks, including "Twitter" and "tweet." The court has not yet issued a written decision on X's request for an injunction.