EU Commissioner Raises Concerns over Illegal Content on Elon Musk’s X Platform
In a recent development, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton has expressed his concerns to Elon Musk regarding the X platform, alleging that it is being misused to disseminate illegal content and misinformation within the European Union (EU). Breton’s letter to Musk came after the Hamas attacks in Israel, where he stated that following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, there are indications that the X platform is facilitating the spread of illegal content and disinformation in the EU.
Breton emphasized the need for transparency and clarity from Musk’s side regarding the content permitted on the X platform. He highlighted the importance of consistently and diligently enforcing policies, particularly regarding violent and terrorist content circulating on the platform. According to Breton, the EU Digital Services Act (DSA) establishes precise obligations for content moderation, and Musk is expected to comply with them. The commissioner urged Musk to respond promptly, accurately, and comprehensively within the next 24 hours, with the answer being included in the EU’s DSA compliance file on X.
Breton further stated that effective measures must be put in place by Musk to address the risks posed by disinformation to public security and civic discourse. He highlighted instances of fake and manipulated images and facts circulating on the X platform in the EU, as reported by public media and civil society organizations. Breton’s message to Musk was clear: compliance with the law is imperative, and close monitoring of X’s actions will be conducted.
On Tuesday, the X platform, under Musk’s leadership, announced that it had taken down newly-created Hamas-affiliated accounts and removed tens of thousands of posts containing graphic media, violent speech, and hateful conduct. However, a recent EU study revealed that X exhibited the highest ratio of discoverability when it came to the circulation of disinformation. Vera Jourova, the EU’s Values and Transparency Commissioner, warned X to comply with the law, asserting that their actions will be closely observed.
The concerns raised by the EU Commissioner shed light on the challenges faced by tech giants in maintaining the integrity of their platforms. As the dissemination of illegal content and disinformation poses a threat to public security and trust, it is crucial for platforms like X to implement effective moderation measures. Whether Elon Musk and the X platform will be able to address these concerns and enforce better content policies remains to be seen.
