[sbe-eas] Twitter reverses its reversal: Allows free automated weather alert messages

[Sean Donelan]

Because Twitter's infrastructure used to be able to handle large, surge 
capacity -- several organizations used twitter with IPAWS/WEA for messages 
such as AMBER Alerts, Earthquakes, Weather alerts.  Although slower than 
WEA, tweets can include images and longer messages.

More common, government agencies used Twitter for informational tweets, 
such as transit alerts and public information announcements.


In reversal, Twitter to allow free automated weather, transit tweets
https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/05/03/twitter-weather-mass-transit-alerts/


[...]
The National Weather Service had cautioned the change posed a threat to 
public safety and told Twitter users to ensure they had other ways to 
receive warnings of tornadoes and other weather threats. The New York City 
subway meanwhile said it would pull back from the platform, which has 
faced increased criticism since Musk took over last year that changes to 
Twitter are making it less vital for many users.

In a tweet posted Tuesday, Twitter said it would allow such automated 
tweets to continue free, in the interest of “public utility.”
[...]