The European Commission has issued a stern warning to Elon Musk regarding the spread of illegal content and disinformation on X, formerly known as Twitter. The warning comes amidst the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and highlights the need for social media platforms to comply with European regulations regarding illegal content.
The European Commissioner’s Letter
In a letter addressed to Elon Musk, the European Commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton expressed concerns about the spread of misinformation and “violent and terrorist” content on X. Breton urged Musk to respond within 24 hours and emphasized that failure to comply with European regulations could result in fines worth 6% of the company’s annual revenue.
Multiple researchers, news organizations, and other groups have documented a rise in misleading, false, and questionable content on X. This influx of content has created confusion among users, particularly concerning the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. Breton shared his letter on X, calling attention to the Digital Services Act (DSA) enacted by the European Commission. The DSA requires platforms with more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU to monitor and remove illegal content, and provide detailed protocols for doing so.
Breton emphasized the need for transparency on X, stating that the platform must be clear on what content is permitted under its terms and consistently enforce its own policies. He cited recent changes in public interest policies that have caused confusion among European users. These changes, made by X over the weekend, influence whether certain posts are made available to everyone despite violating policy rules.
The Commissioner’s letter also highlighted concerns over the circulation of fake and manipulated images and facts on X in the EU. Instances of repurposed old images from unrelated armed conflicts and military footage originating from video games have been widely reported by public media and civil society organizations. This further emphasizes the need for platforms to diligently moderate content and prevent the dissemination of false information.
The European regulator’s warning to Elon Musk regarding the spread of illegal content and disinformation on X serves as a reminder to social media platforms of their obligations. Compliance with European regulations is crucial in order to maintain transparency and prevent the spread of misleading and harmful content. As discussions continue regarding the role of social media platforms in society, it is evident that stronger measures are needed to combat illegal content and protect users from misinformation.
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