X, formerly Twitter, is now facing its first probe over whether it has fulfilled its promise to address content related to the Israel-Palestine dispute on its platform.
Often criticized for disinformation and unlawful posts, the US social media giant has received its first European Union (EU) investigation on its management of content concerning the Israel-Hamas spat.
In response to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), X has submitted several reports, including content moderation and transparency reports, in September and November, respectively. The company has also provided a formal request for information on illegal content linked to Hamas’ assault on Israel.
DSA violators could face penalties of up to 6% of their firms’ global turnover. It was reported that X’s 2022 revenue ranged from $4.40 billion to $5.22 billion.
The EU Commission’s inquiry marks the latest episode in an ongoing conflict between X and its owner, Elon Musk.
The EU industry chief, Thierry Breton, outlined the investigation’s focal points in a brief statement.
He stated that formal infringement proceedings on X have started, with charges including an alleged violation of obligations to prevent illegal content and disinformation, an alleged violation of transparency obligations, and a suspected Deceptive Design of the user interface.
Musk has discussed the platform’s moderation methods, confronting the bloc’s claims.
Replying to Breton’s post, the Tesla chief executive inquired whether a similar action was being taken against other social media, arguing that if they have encountered such problems with X, and nothing is in good condition, other platforms would have more severe problems.
X’s Major Shift After Musk’s Takeover
Musk’s takeover has brought significant changes to X, from operations to business dynamics.
Such alterations included a switch with its general political bias in its artificial intelligence (AI) models and lifting bans on certain accounts, which has resulted in millions of ad revenue losses but was not a primary concern for Musk.
The changes have sparked debates on X’s new course, particularly on disinformation and balancing open communication and responsible content management.
The ‘Community Notes’ feature launched earlier this year was crucial to the EU’s probe. The feature allows users to identify misleading content, but it may be seen as ineffective for verifying facts on X posts and insufficient to promote responsible information.
X said it only takes necessary steps when content violates its rules. Otherwise, they rely on providing further context.
The company added that they identify misinformation through human and technological evaluation and global third-party partnerships.
Following the October 7 attacks, X chief executive Linda Yaccarino said they have removed thousands of posts and remain responsive to law enforcement requests worldwide, including EU member states.
Yaccarino also emphasized the major role of community notes in combating disinformation.
Still, the feature has demonstrated its advantages and disadvantages. Despite its perks, community notes have removed posts from well-known political accounts, such as those from the Israeli government and the White House, for false reasons.
