Twitter has launched Periscope, a Meerkat-like iOS app which broadcasts live video to your followers.

Going live sends an instant notification to your friends, who can tune in via Twitter or the app, see what you’re seeing, add comments in real time or send you hearts (the Periscope equivalent of Facebook Likes) to show their appreciation.

An option to keep the video for a few hours ensures anyone who misses the broadcast can catch it later.

Privacy features include the ability to select who is allowed access to a particular broadcast.

Broadcast live to the world (or just your friends)

There are still going to be issues here when people or events are broadcast without their knowledge or permission. But that’s for the lawyers to sort out. In the meantime, Periscope 1.0 is available now.