Twitter updates rules and pledges to add safety staff

Twitter has issued a new set of commitments after a spate of high-profile allegations of threats and abuse because, it says, "people deserve to feel safe" using the network.

In a blog post written by Del Harvey, Twitter's San Francisco-based head of safety and Tony Wang, Twitter UK's general manager, the service committed to:

• Update its rules to be clearer on abuse and threats
• Add an 'in-Tweet report button' to the Android application and Twitter.com (it has already been introduced on mobile web Twitter and on the iPhone app)
• Work with the UK Safer Internet Centre and include its campaigns in promoted trends

• Add more staff to its teams that handle abuse reports

The pledges come in response to a series of threats and abuse allegations in recent weeks:

• Police investigating Twitter abuse allegations by eight people
• Female journalists sent bomb threats on Twitter
• Man arrested over harassment claims directed at feminist campaigner
• MP complains to police after Twitter rape threats