The European Commission has formally initiated infringement proceedings against the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, owned by US billionaire Elon Musk. The investigation centers around potential breaches of the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA), specifically related to hate speech, fake news, and transparency.
Under the Digital Services Act, which became effective in August, companies can face fines of up to 6% of their global income or be prohibited from operating within the EU for violations of the law. The decision to launch the investigation follows recent requests for evidence of X’s compliance with new regulations aimed at combatting hate speech, racism, and disinformation on platforms within the EU.
Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner overseeing the DSA, confirmed the proceedings against X in a post on the platform. The investigation is based on suspicions of a breach of obligations related to countering illegal content and disinformation, transparency, and a suspected deceptive design of the user interface.
The inquiry into deceptive design focuses on the controversial use of “blue check” marks, which were previously given by Twitter to verified users but are now reportedly only available to those who pay. Critics argue that this practice could contribute to the spread of fake news and misinformation.
The investigation was prompted by concerns raised after Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7 and Israel’s subsequent response. The EU sent a formal letter to X on October 10, citing indications that the platform was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU during the conflict.
Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, responded to the EU’s letter, stating that the company is actively working to address the operational needs of the conflict and is committed to removing accounts associated with terrorist organizations in real time.
The European Commission’s decision to proceed with formal proceedings is based on a preliminary investigation, which allegedly focused on the dissemination of illegal content in the context of the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The EU expressed concerns about the effectiveness of X’s mitigations and its compliance with the notice and action mechanism for illegal content.
No specific timeline has been provided for the investigation, but the EU could apply interim measures if deemed necessary before its conclusion. The European Commission also mentioned the possibility of issuing new guidance to all social platforms ahead of the upcoming EU parliamentary elections. If X were to withdraw services from the EU, officials insisted that legal action would still apply.
Earlier this year, Facebook, TikTok, Google, and Microsoft signed a code of conduct in preparation for the new laws under the DSA. However, Twitter exited the code of conduct in May, prompting a warning from Commissioner Breton about the legal obligations under the DSA related to combating disinformation.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
