The European Commission has launched an investigation into the handling of content related to the Israel-Gaza conflict by X, the company formerly known as Twitter. This move marks a significant action taken under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), a law designed to combat disinformation and harmful posts on tech platforms.
Thierry Breton, a European commissioner, made the announcement, stating that the European Union has formally requested information from X regarding its policies and handling of complaints related to hate speech, violence, and terrorist content. The commission is keen to ensure that X is in compliance with the DSA. Failure to provide accurate responses by the October 18 deadline could result in fines for the company.
This request represents an escalation of a warning letter sent earlier in the week to X’s owner, Elon Musk. The letter questioned whether X was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation concerning the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Breton emphasized the importance of the DSA in protecting freedom of expression and democratic values, even in times of crisis. The European Union, often referred to as Silicon Valley’s top regulator, is now testing how the law will be enforced by scrutinizing X’s handling of terrorist content and related posts.
Elon Musk’s acquisition of X approximately a year ago has led to significant changes on the platform. Many previously banned accounts were reinstated, and some content rules were relaxed to promote free speech. However, this transformation led to concerns about the proliferation of hateful content and caused advertisers to withdraw from the platform.
As of now, X has not responded to the European Commission’s request for comment. In response to Breton’s letter, X’s Chief Executive, Linda Yaccarino, outlined the company’s efforts to remove or label thousands of posts and apply crowdsourced fact checks to many others. She emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency, safety, and the successful implementation of the DSA.
The European Commission’s decision to open this probe suggests that it found X’s initial response inadequate. Breton had previously indicated that the platform was potentially being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation, stressing the need for transparency and timely action in addressing such content.
Elon Musk, in response to Breton’s concerns, stated that X’s policy is based on transparency and open sourcing of information, aligning with the European Union’s values. He requested a list of violations for public scrutiny.
Amidst the surge of misinformation about the Israel-Gaza war, Musk personally recommended accounts known for promoting falsehoods, which raised concerns. Reset, an analysis group focused on social media’s impact on democracy, discovered instances of disinformation and hate speech on X related to the conflict, potentially violating European law.
Thierry Breton has also sent letters to the chief executives of other social media companies, including TikTok and Meta, warning them about their responsibilities under the DSA.
Breton’s interactions with tech giants underscore the European Union’s determination to enforce the DSA and hold companies accountable for the content on their platforms.
the European Commission’s investigation into X’s handling of content related to the Israel-Gaza war is a significant step in enforcing the Digital Services Act and regulating tech platforms’ role in addressing disinformation and harmful content. The outcome of this investigation will likely have implications for how tech companies operate within the European Union.
