Following the recent attacks by Hamas in Israel, the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) has taken swift action by removing hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts. The platform’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, stated that X is dedicated to fostering public conversation, especially during critical moments like these, and is committed to addressing illegal content.
She emphasized that X does not tolerate terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups on its platform and is actively removing such accounts in real-time.
Everyday we're reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users. In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we've redistributed… https://t.co/VR2rsK0J9K
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) October 12, 2023
EU Raises Concerns: Pressure Mounts on X to Tackle Disinformation
This rapid response from X was prompted by a 24-hour ultimatum issued by the European Union industry chief, Thierry Breton, to Elon Musk, urging him to combat the spread of disinformation on X and ensure compliance with new EU online content regulations. Breton expressed concerns about the alleged use of the platform for distributing illegal content and disinformation within the European Union.
Under the newly implemented EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), large online platforms like X and Meta’s Facebook are required to take proactive measures to remove illegal content and address threats to public security and civic discourse.
X’s Compliance Efforts: Addressing EU Requests Swiftly
Yaccarino assured Breton that X had established a leadership group to promptly assess the situation. In response to Breton’s concerns, X expressed willingness to engage further with the EU and eagerly awaited specific details to effectively address the issues raised.
It’s important to note that X reported responding to over 80 takedown requests from the EU within the required timeframe and had not received any notices from Europol regarding illegal content on its platform.
