X Tops List of Social Networks with Highest Disinformation Ratio, EU Study Reveals

X, formerly known as Twitter, has come under scrutiny as the European Commission released a study suggesting that it harbors the highest proportion of disinformation among six major social networks. This investigation encompassed an examination of over 6,000 distinct social media posts across platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube. The research particularly focused on content in three countries—Spain, Poland, and Slovakia—which were identified as particularly vulnerable to disinformation, mainly due to impending elections and their proximity to the conflict in Ukraine.

The European Commission’s Values and Transparency Commissioner, Vera Jourova, issued a strong message to X, stating, “My message for X is: you have to comply with the hard law. We’ll be watching what you’re doing.” Ms. Jourova’s comments were prompted by the disinformation study’s findings, which centered on the disinformation landscape in Spain, Poland, and Slovakia. These countries were deemed at risk of being targeted by disinformation campaigns given their circumstances.

The term “ratio of discoverability” emerged as a crucial metric in the study, signifying the proportion of sensitive content that consists of disinformation. Astonishingly, Twitter, now referred to as X, was found to have the highest ratio of discoverability for disinformation, while YouTube had the lowest.

TrustLab, a startup specializing in monitoring disinformation, conducted the study as part of its efforts to support the European Union’s code of practice on combating disinformation. X, originally Twitter, and many other social networks, had initially committed to this voluntary code back in 2018. However, X withdrew from the code during Elon Musk’s leadership.

Despite this withdrawal, X will still be subject to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which governs the behavior of large tech platforms. The EU’s intention is to transform the voluntary code into a code of conduct under the DSA. Vera Jourova emphasized that “Mr. Musk knows that he is not off the hook by leaving the code of practice because now we have the Digital Services Act fully enforced.” Companies that fail to comply with the DSA could potentially face fines amounting to up to six percent of their global turnover.

In a recent development, the European Union accused social media companies of falling short in their efforts to halt “large-scale” Russian disinformation campaigns, especially in the wake of the Ukraine invasion. It was noted that the “reach and influence of Kremlin-backed accounts” had expanded even further in 2023. Vera Jourova, in response to this, highlighted that Russia was employing a “multi-million euro weapon of mass manipulation” aimed at European populations. Given the ongoing war in Ukraine and impending European elections, this threat was regarded as particularly severe.

Furthermore, Ms. Jourova underscored the importance of addressing AI-generated disinformation, especially in preparation for the upcoming elections. She revealed her plans to meet with representatives of OpenAI to discuss this critical issue.

This situation adds to the growing concerns about social media platforms’ responsibility in tackling disinformation, especially when influenced by state actors. It emphasizes the need for stronger regulations and actions to preserve the integrity of information in the digital age. The EU’s Digital Services Act signifies a step towards holding tech companies accountable for their content and actions in this regard.