Twitter bans account of former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke

The social media company is cracking down on hateful content on its site

Twitter is under pressure to tackle hateful content on its platform. AP

Twitter has permanently suspended the account of David Duke, a former leader of white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan.

The social media company made the announcement on Friday.

It is the latest suspension in its drive to tackle hateful content.

Duke's account was suspended for repeatedly breaching Twitter's policy on hateful content and harmful links, Twitter said.

Under the company's hateful conduct policy, any threats of attacks directed at people on the basis of their religion, race or ethnicity is prohibited.

Twitter has long been under pressure to clean up hateful content on its platform and faced calls to control misinformation, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The KKK is the oldest white supremacist group in the US and its roots trace back to the Reconstruction era in the South that followed the Civil War.

In addition to anti-black views, the KKK expressed anti-Semitic and anti-immigrant views.

Last week, Twitter removed more than 7,000 accounts linked to the QAnon movement over abuse and harassment concerns and promised to try to limit the spread of conspiracy theories by its supporters.

Twitter's decision comes after nearly 1,000 advertisers announced they were boycotting Facebook, demanding more aggressive action against content that promotes violence and hate.