X Faces EU Investigation Over Disinformation
The European Union has formally initiated proceedings against Twitter, now identified as X, accusing the platform of breaching rules related to countering illegal content, disinformation, and transparency.
Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton outlined the alleged infringements in a post on the social media platform.
Owned by Elon Musk, X stated that it is cooperating with the regulatory process and emphasized the importance of a politically unbiased investigation that adheres to the law, stating the company is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment while protecting freedom of expression.
These proceedings mark the first actions taken under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a set of stringent rules introduced by the EU for major tech firms.
The DSA imposes additional obligations on large companies to safeguard users against extreme content, with potential consequences including significant fines or suspension for non-compliance.
EU Commission spokesman Johannes Bahrke clarified that the initiation of proceedings signifies an investigation into X’s systems and policies related to suspected infringements, without prejudging the outcome.
Previously, in October, the EU had announced an investigation into X concerning the potential spread of terrorist content, violence, and hate speech following an attack by Hamas on Israel. X had responded by removing numerous Hamas-affiliated accounts from its platform.
The latest phase of the investigation will also scrutinize the effectiveness of X’s Community Notes system, designed to allow contributors to comment on post accuracy as a measure against disinformation.
Concerns about content on X have escalated since Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform, particularly due to a reduction in moderators. The European Commission had previously warned that X faced the most significant disinformation problem among major platforms.
In the United States, controversies surrounding extremist material on X have led to an advertising boycott, a dispute between Musk and a campaign group, and speculation about the platform facing potential bankruptcy.
