On Tuesday, Thierry Breton, the European Union’s digital chief, issued a warning to Elon Musk regarding his platform X, previously known as Twitter, alleging the spread of “illegal content and disinformation.”
In his role as the European Union’s commissioner for industry and the digital economy, Breton holds the responsibility of overseeing and regulating internet giants that operate within the European Union, with the authority to initiate legal actions as needed.
Following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against 🇮🇱, we have indications of X/Twitter being used to disseminate illegal content & disinformation in the EU.
Urgent letter to @elonmusk on #DSA obligations ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/avMm1LHq54
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 10, 2023
Over the weekend, as misleading information about the dynamic conflict between Gaza Strip militants and Israel circulated on the social media platform X, owner Elon Musk made a personal recommendation to users to follow accounts known for disseminating falsehoods.
On Sunday morning, Musk shared with his 150 million followers on the platform his suggestion, saying, “For following the war in real-time, @WarMonitors & @sentdefender are good.” Within three hours, his post garnered 11 million views and received expressions of gratitude from the mentioned accounts. However, Musk later deleted the post.
“Following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, we have indications that your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU,” Breton wrote.
Breton reminded Musk that EU law sets tough rules on moderating content, “especially when it comes to violent and terrorist content that appears to circulate on your platform”.
Vu, merci.
You are well aware of your users’ — and authorities’— reports on fake content and glorification of violence.
Up to you to demonstrate that you walk the talk.
My team remains at your disposal to ensure DSA compliance, which the EU will continue to enforce rigorously.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) October 10, 2023
He asked that X respond to his complaint within 24 hours and also get in touch with Europol, the EU police coordinating agency.
“We will include your answer in our assessment file on your compliance with the DSA,” Breton said, referring to the new EU Digital Services Act, which regulates online platforms.
“I remind you that following the opening of a potential investigation and a finding of non-compliance, penalties can be imposed,” it said.
Musk, responding later on X to a user who had posted the letter, invited Breton to “please list the violations you allude to”.
“Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports,” Musk wrote.
Brussels has previously complained that, among the large-scale internet platforms that fall under the DSA remit, Musk’s Twitter now rebranded X spreads the biggest proportion of disinformation.
In August, when the new law came into effect, Musk replied to a post by Breton promising that the platform was “working hard” to comply, but there have been more warning signs.
While the rules were still voluntary, the firm pulled out of an oversight group, and Musk — a self-styled “free speech absolutist” — has been dismissive of criticism in his personal posts.
In September, the billionaire tech mogul boasted that he had cut half of its global team dedicated to monitoring and limiting disinformation and fraud around major elections.
Since Saturday’s shock attack on Israeli communities by the Hamas militant group, web platforms have been swamped by posts containing fake or misrepresented reports and footage.
While the confirmed death toll in the renewed war has now passed 3,000 — unconfirmed, exaggerated or false reports of atrocities have also proliferated.
Experts fear these moves have increased the risk of misinformation provoking real-world harm, amplifying hate and violence.
(With inputs from agencies)
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