LONDON. Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, has taken extensive measures to remove hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and either remove or label thousands of pieces of content since the outbreak of the conflict involving the militant group’s attacks on Israel, as stated by the CEO of the company formerly known as Twitter.
Linda Yaccarino provided an overview of X’s efforts to combat illegal content proliferating on the platform. Her response came following a request from a prominent European Union official earlier this week, seeking information on how X is complying with the EU’s stringent new digital regulations during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
“X is proportionately and effectively evaluating and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this continuously evolving and shifting crisis,” Yaccarino mentioned in a letter to European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the digital enforcer of the 27-nation bloc.
The conflict has brought an inundation of photos and videos to social media platforms, depicting the devastation, including harrowing footage of Hamas fighters holding terrified Israelis hostage. Simultaneously, users have been posting false claims and misrepresenting videos from unrelated events.
The platform’s dynamics have shifted since Musk’s acquisition last year. Changes include allowing accounts that subscribe to X’s blue-check service to earn money if their posts go viral, creating a financial incentive to share content that garners the most attention. Additionally, X’s workforce, including its content moderation team, has been significantly reduced.
These changes now collide with the EU’s Digital Services Act, which became effective in August. The legislation obliges social media companies to intensify their content monitoring efforts on their platforms, particularly concerning illegal content like terrorist material or hate speech, under the threat of substantial fines.
Yaccarino emphasized, “There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups, and we continue to remove such accounts in real-time, including proactive efforts.”
X has undertaken measures to “remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content,” Yaccarino stated. She also highlighted the existence of 700 unique Community Notes, a feature enabling users to add their fact-checks to posts, all related to the attacks and unfolding events.
The platform has been swift in its response and has acted diligently and objectively in addressing takedown requests from law enforcement agencies worldwide, including over 80 such requests from EU member states, according to Yaccarino.
Following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and its subsequent renaming, experts have observed that the platform has not only become less reliable but actively promotes false information. A study commissioned by the EU has found that it ranks as the poorest-performing platform concerning online disinformation.
Rival social media platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook are also grappling with a deluge of unverified rumors and misinformation related to the Middle Eastern conflict, perpetuating the challenge that arises each time a significant news event captures global attention.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
