EU Commission targets X over ‘dissemination of illegal content’

The European Fee mentioned it had opened formal proceedings to research X — previously Twitter — over content material associated to the terrorist group Hamas’ assaults towards Israel.

In a Dec. 18 discover, the fee mentioned it deliberate to evaluate whether or not X violated the Digital Providers Act for its response to misinformation and unlawful content material on the platform. In accordance with the federal government physique, X was below investigation for the effectiveness of its Group Notes — feedback added to particular tweets geared toward offering context — in addition to insurance policies “mitigating dangers to civic discourse and electoral processes.”

“The opening of formal proceedings empowers the Fee to take additional enforcement steps, reminiscent of interim measures, and non-compliance choices,” mentioned the discover. “The Fee can be empowered to simply accept any dedication made by X to treatment on the issues topic to the continuing.”

We’ve opened formal proceedings to evaluate whether or not X might have breached the #DSA in areas linked to:

danger administration
content material moderation
darkish patterns
promoting transparency
information entry for researchers

Extra info on subsequent steps: https://t.co/VHJjIsVftY pic.twitter.com/oygKah5GIq

— European Fee (@EU_Commission) December 18, 2023

The proceedings will embody a glance into X’s blue verify mark system, which the fee described as a “suspected misleading design” on the platform. In accordance with the European Fee, there have been additionally “suspected shortcomings” in X’s efforts to extend transparency of the platform’s publicly obtainable information.

X proprietor Elon Musk applied controversial insurance policies on the social media large following his buy of Twitter in 2022, receiving criticism from many long-time customers and tech business consultants. The then-CEO was chargeable for slicing Twitter’s belief and security group, lowering the variety of content material moderators, and changing the platform’s signature blue verify verification system. 

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Following the Oct. 7 assault by Hamas on Israel, Musk used his private account to advertise antisemitic content material by replying to a tweet selling far-right conspiracy theories. The watchdog group Media Issues launched a report in November displaying that ads on X for giant corporations had been in a position to be featured alongside pro-nazi content material below sure search circumstances.

Throughout a Nov. 29 interview with Andrew Ross Sorkin, Musk instructed advertisers to “go fuck your self” following many leaving the platform, saying the exodus was “gonna kill the corporate.” The social media website claimed it was “the platform totally free speech” after submitting a lawsuit towards Media Issues, alleging the group’s report didn’t replicate what the standard X consumer sees.

On the time of publication, Musk had not publicly commented on the European Fee investigation. The previous Twitter CEO is thought within the crypto area for pushing Dogecoin (DOGE) and different tokens, in addition to his Bitcoin (BTC) purchases whereas heading Tesla and SpaceX.

Journal: Terrorism & Israel-Gaza warfare weaponized to destroy crypto