The European Commission has initiated a comprehensive investigation into ‘X’—the social media platform formerly known as Twitter—focusing on handling illegal content and misinformation.
This investigation comes amid heightened concerns over the platform’s content management approach, especially concerning sensitive political and social issues.
We have opened formal proceedings to assess whether X may have breached the #DSA in areas linked to:
🔹 risk management
🔹 content moderation
🔹 dark patterns
🔹 advertising transparency
🔹 data access for researchersMore information on next steps: https://t.co/VHJjIsVftY pic.twitter.com/oygKah5GIq
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 18, 2023
Scrutinizing ‘X’s Content Moderation Strategies
At the heart of the Commission’s inquiry is an examination of ‘X’s effectiveness in managing and mitigating misleading and illegal content. A particular focus is the platform’s Community Notes feature, designed to offer contextual information to tweets. The effectiveness of this tool in ensuring the integrity of civic discourse and electoral processes is now under close examination.
Furthermore, the Commission is delving into the intricacies of ‘X’s blue check mark system, which has raised eyebrows over its design and implementation. There is a growing concern that the system may have been used in ways that could be misleading to users. Additionally, the investigation looks into how ‘X’ has handled transparency, particularly regarding the accessibility and clarity of its publicly available data.
You have said the actual truth
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 15, 2023
Controversial Leadership Under Elon Musk
The platform’s owner, Elon Musk, has been polarizing since he acquired Twitter in 2022. His approach to policy changes, including restructuring the trust and safety team and modifying the platform’s verification system, has sparked intense debate and criticism. Musk’s blunt response to advertisers who withdrew from the platform over concerns of antisemitic content and a report highlighting the prevalence of hate speech have only added fuel to the fire.
Elon Musk just told advertisers who have pulled out of Twitter to go fuck themselves. This is going great.
— Read Let This Radicalize You (@JoshuaPHilll) November 29, 2023
This controversy reached a new peak when major advertisers like Apple and IBM paused their advertising on ‘X’, citing unacceptable instances of their ads appearing alongside offensive content, including pro-Nazi material. This development highlights the growing concern among businesses about the nature of the content they are associated with on social media platforms.
Broader Implications and Musk’s Crypto Ventures
The investigation is not just a critical moment for ‘X’ but also signals a turning point in regulating social media platforms regarding content management and misinformation. Elon Musk, known for his influence in the cryptocurrency market with his endorsements of Dogecoin and Bitcoin, finds his social media venture under scrutiny, which could have broader implications for the digital communication landscape.
The European Commission’s actions underscore a growing global focus on the responsibilities of social media platforms. As digital spaces increasingly influence public opinion and political discourse, the need for robust and transparent content moderation policies becomes more evident. The outcome of this investigation could set a precedent for how digital platforms manage content, balance freedom of expression, and counteract misinformation.
Conversation about free speech is growing on X. In the last month, posts including "free speech" received over 11M total favorites and over 1M replies. In just the last two weeks, these posts grew +31% in impressions, +51% in favorites, and +48% in replies.
X is the platform for… https://t.co/h94puS8ByL
— Data (@XData) December 14, 2023
The probe not only questions X’s content moderation practices but also challenges the broader social media industry to reevaluate its role in shaping public opinion and safeguarding democratic values. As the world watches, the repercussions of this investigation could redefine the landscape of social media regulation and digital content management for years to come.
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