Twitter hopes to make it easier to report threats to law enforcement with new feature

Twitter is implementing a new feature that will help users gather and report threatening tweets via the company's platform to law enforcement, user safety product manager Ethan Avey announced today via the company's blog.

After users file a report about a threatening tweet, they'll be given the chance to get a summary of that report via email. Those that opt for the email will get a message that includes the threatening tweet and its corresponding URL, as well as the Twitter username and URL of the abuser. Time stamps for the abusive tweet and the report filing will also be included.

"While we take threats of violence seriously and will suspend responsible accounts when appropriate, we strongly recommend contacting your local law enforcement if you're concerned about your physical safety," Avey wrote. "We hope that providing you with a summary of your report will make that process easier for you."

Twitter CEO Dick Costolo has previously admitted that as a company, "we suck at dealing with abuse and trolls."

"I'm frankly ashamed of how poorly we've dealt with this issue during my tenure as CEO," Costolo said in an internal memo. "It's absurd. There's no excuse for it. I take full responsibility for not being more aggressive on this front. It's nobody else's fault but mine, and it's embarrassing."

The feature comes with feedback from Twitter's safety partners, such as the National Network to End Domestic Violence.