European Commission Probes X (Former Twitter) for Illegal Content

The European Commission has initiated formal proceedings to investigate X, formerly known as Twitter, over concerns related to the dissemination of illegal content on its platform. The probe, launched on December 18, focuses on X’s handling of content associated with the terrorist group Hamas’ attacks against Israel. The Commission aims to assess whether X violated the Digital Services Act in its response to misinformation and illegal content.

Reviewing X’s Transparency: Community Notes and Blue Check System Scrutiny

The investigation will delve into the effectiveness of X’s Community Notes, a feature aimed at providing context to specific tweets. Additionally, the European Commission is scrutinizing X’s policies designed to mitigate risks to civic discourse and electoral processes. Of particular concern is the platform’s blue check mark system, which the Commission described as a “suspected deceptive design.” There are also “suspected shortcomings” in X’s efforts to enhance the transparency of publicly available data on the platform.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, implemented controversial policies after acquiring Twitter in 2022, drawing criticism for significant changes, including reducing the trust and safety team, cutting content moderators, and revamping the blue check verification system.

Antisemitic Content and Platform Transparency: Key Issues Under Investigation

The European Commission’s proceedings follow incidents involving X, such as Elon Musk using his personal account to promote antisemitic content after the Hamas attack on Israel. The watchdog group Media Matters released a report indicating that advertisements for large firms on X were appearing alongside pro-Nazi content under certain search conditions. The investigation will also address concerns related to the transparency of X’s publicly available data and potential issues with the blue check mark system.

In a November 29 interview, Musk responded to advertisers leaving the platform by telling them to “go f— yourself,” expressing concern that the exodus could harm the company. X had previously claimed to be “the platform for free speech” and filed a lawsuit against Media Matters, disputing the accuracy of the group’s report.

Conclusion

The formal proceedings empower the European Commission to take enforcement steps, including interim measures and non-compliance decisions. X has the opportunity to address the concerns raised, and the Commission may consider any commitments made by Elon Musk’s platform to remedy the issues. As the investigation unfolds, Musk, a prominent figure in the crypto space, has not publicly commented on the European Commission’s actions, leaving the future of X in the balance.