Outrage as Twitter set to censor messages

After fanning the flames of the Arab Spring, the makers of Twitter have set a new target for the online generation — censorship.

From this weekend, users of the microblogging website will not be able to tweet into a country’s user stream if the comments breach the nation’s laws — including those in conflict countries such as Syria.

The move, which critics say contradicts Twitter’s claims that the site is “from the free speech wing of the free speech party”, means some messages will not be viewable in certain countries.