European Officials Warn X About Misinformation and Content on Hamas-Israel War

European officials have issued a warning to X, previously known as Twitter, over concerns that the platform has been hosting misinformation and illegal content related to the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) places specific obligations on platforms like X regarding content moderation, and X’s handling of the ongoing conflict has raised doubts about its compliance.

In a letter addressed to X owner Elon Musk, Thierry Breton, a top European commissioner, emphasized that X could face substantial fines if regulators find that violations have occurred. This is significant, as there has been a surge of false claims related to the conflict, ranging from fake White House press releases to misleading news reports and out-of-context videos, some even sourced from unrelated conflicts and video games.

Breton pointed out that much of this problematic content seems to have emerged after platform changes made under Musk’s supervision. For example, X recently altered its Public Interest Policy, making it easier for accounts to qualify for newsworthiness exceptions. Previously, accounts needed a minimum of 100,000 followers to qualify, but now they only need to be “high profile” accounts representing government officials, political parties, or candidates. This change raises concerns about what content, particularly violent and terrorist content, will be removed.

Under the DSA, platforms must respond swiftly when officials flag content that violates European laws. However, Breton cautioned that X may not be adhering to this requirement, as there have been reports of potentially illegal content circulating on the platform despite warnings from relevant authorities.

In response to the warning, Musk stated that X follows an open-source and transparent policy, and he urged authorities to list the violations they are concerned about. Breton replied that X needs to demonstrate its commitment to DSA compliance, as the EU will continue to enforce it rigorously.

The spread of misinformation regarding the conflict on X continues to be a concern. Bellingcat, an investigative journalism group, reported the circulation of a fake video masquerading as a BBC News report, falsely claiming that Ukraine had smuggled weapons to Hamas. This video, shared on social media, was labeled as “manipulated media” by X.

Musk’s actions since taking over X have sparked controversy. He has downsized the platform’s content moderation and policy teams, which has led to concerns about increased misinformation and hate speech. Furthermore, he eliminated traditional verification badges and replaced them with a paid system, allowing users to obtain badges without undergoing identity checks. This change has made it more challenging for users to assess the credibility of accounts, especially during fast-moving news events.

Notably, Musk himself has contributed to the chaos by sharing and later deleting a post recommending an account known for spreading misinformation, including a fake report of an explosion at the Pentagon.

The European Union’s warning to X underscores the ongoing challenge of combatting misinformation and maintaining compliance with content moderation laws in the digital age.