The European Union has repeatedly warned Elon Musk about the possible imposition of penalties on X (formerly Twitter) for non-compliance with EU regulations. Two weeks ago, the billionaire was criticized for a high percentage of posts on X containing Russian propaganda or disinformation. Now the problem has arisen after the Hamas attack on Israel.
The European Commission warns Elon Musk. Disinformation on X has been detected again
Thierry Breton from the European Commission has already sent an official letter to Elon Musk on this matter, a copy of which he made available on the X platform, calling the letter “urgent”. A European official wrote that the EC found that “the platform is used to spread illegal content and disinformation in the European Union.” This content is supposed to be related to Saturday’s unexpected attack by Hamas on Israel and the war that the country is currently fighting with the organization from the Gaza Strip.
Breton emphasizes that X should implement clear rules on what content is appropriate and what is not and strictly adhere to them, which would be appropriate at a time when “violent and terrorist content appears to be circulating on […] platform.” Thierry Breton also reminded the billionaire that, in accordance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), administrators of, among others, social networking sites are obliged to moderate content.
In accordance with the DSA act, large social networking sites and trading platforms operating in the European Union include: about terrorist content and hate speech. Failure to comply with the provisions of the Digital Services Act may result in very high penalties. Meanwhile – as we know – when Elon Musk bought Twitter, he announced unrestricted “freedom of speech” on the platform (currently known as X).
As he writes, among others: , since Saturday, the X portal has included not only pro-terrorism content, but also deliberately misleading content regarding the Hamas attack on Israel. The portal featured, among others: numerous videos purporting to depict a Hamas attack but in fact recorded in a different place and time. It was, among others, material recorded in September in Egypt, and even a fragment of gameplay from a computer game.
Elon Musk has already commented on the matter. In response to Thierry Breton’s post, he stated that “ours [X-a] policy is openness and transparency of everything, which – as we know – the EU supports.” The billionaire also asked the EC “to list the violations mentioned” so that “the public can see them.” “You are perfectly aware of the reports of users and authorities on about false content and glorification of violence [na X]” wrote Breton, adding that his team is ready to help X if he has difficulties.
Source: Gazeta
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