Summary:
The European Union has given Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, 24 hours to address the spread of disinformation and illegal content on its platform.
The warning comes after the platform was used to spread disinformation and illegal content in the EU after Hamas attacked Israel.
The EU’s digital services regulation, which came into force in August, requires platforms with more than 45 million monthly active users in the EU to monitor and remove illegal content quickly and objectively.
According to Commissioner Thierry Breton, the illegal content is still on the platform, meaning nothing has been done about it. Breton reminded Musk that the digital services regulation precisely defines the requirements for content moderation and that Musk’s platform should have proportionate and effective means to mitigate the risks to public safety caused by disinformation.
The European Union’s Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, has issued a warning to billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk concerning his social media platform known as X. Breton’s concerns revolve around the dissemination of illegal content and disinformation within the European Union (EU) through this platform.
Growing Concerns Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
Breton’s letter to Elon Musk, dated October 10, 2023, cited the heightened concerns about false information on X, particularly following recent attacks by Hamas on Israel.
The EU commissioner pointed out that there were indications that X was being used to spread illegal content and disinformation within the EU. These concerns are of paramount importance, especially when it comes to violent and terrorist content circulating on the platform.
Breton reminded Musk of the EU’s stringent regulations on content moderation, emphasizing the need to swiftly and objectively remove such content as required by the EU’s digital services regulation, which came into force in August. This regulation aims to set precise requirements for content moderation on online platforms.
Breton also highlighted that public media and civil society organizations have widely reported instances of fake and manipulated images and facts circulating on X within the EU. These include the repurposing of old images from unrelated armed conflicts or even military footage that originally originated from video games. Such instances contribute to the spread of manifestly false or misleading information.
In a bid to address the situation urgently, Breton has given Elon Musk and his team a tight deadline. The EU commissioner demanded a response within the next 24 hours, urging Musk to also establish contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities and Europol, the EU’s police coordinating agency. These measures are essential to ensure a rapid and effective response to the pressing issue.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Thierry Breton made it clear that non-compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) could lead to penalties. The DSA is the new legislation enacted by the European Commission, which requires platforms with over 45 million monthly active users in the EU to actively monitor and remove illegal content. Failure to adhere to these regulations could result in fines amounting to 6% of a company’s annual revenue.
Rise in Misinformation and Disinformation
The concerns raised by the EU commissioner are not without merit. In recent times, several researchers, news organizations, and other groups have documented a significant rise in misleading, false, and questionable content on X. This surge in disinformation has led to confusion among users, particularly regarding ongoing conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Breton’s letter to Musk emphasized the necessity for X to maintain transparency regarding what content is permitted under its terms and conditions. The commissioner called on Musk’s platform to consistently and diligently enforce its own policies, which are in line with the EU’s DSA. Recent changes in public interest policies, such as the decision to leave certain posts available despite violating policy rules, have caused confusion among many European users.
