Quickly after Hamas’ assault on Israel this yr, the European Union (EU) wrote a letter to X (beforehand Twitter) warning the social media platform that it’s getting used to unfold misinformation. The corporate was additionally urged to be well timed and in taking motion and eradicating the related content material. It appears that evidently X was not diligent sufficient because the EU regulators introduced the opening of a proper investigation into the dealing with of alleged spreading of unlawful content material and disinformation by the corporate.
The European Fee will assess whether or not X could have breached the Digital Companies Act (DSA) in areas linked to threat administration, content material moderation, darkish patterns, promoting transparency and information entry for researchers.
“On the idea of the preliminary investigation carried out to this point, together with on the idea of an evaluation of the danger evaluation report submitted by X in September, X’s Transparency report revealed on 3 November, and X’s replies to a proper request for data, which, amongst others, involved the dissemination of unlawful content material within the context of Hamas’ terrorist assaults towards Israel, the Fee has determined to open formal infringement proceedings towards X beneath the Digital Companies Act,” the Fee mentioned in a press release.
Focus areas of proceedings:
In accordance with the Fee, the proceedings will concentrate on 4 areas:
The European Fee will assess whether or not X could have breached the Digital Companies Act (DSA) in areas linked to threat administration, content material moderation, darkish patterns, promoting transparency and information entry for researchers.
“On the idea of the preliminary investigation carried out to this point, together with on the idea of an evaluation of the danger evaluation report submitted by X in September, X’s Transparency report revealed on 3 November, and X’s replies to a proper request for data, which, amongst others, involved the dissemination of unlawful content material within the context of Hamas’ terrorist assaults towards Israel, the Fee has determined to open formal infringement proceedings towards X beneath the Digital Companies Act,” the Fee mentioned in a press release.
Focus areas of proceedings:
In accordance with the Fee, the proceedings will concentrate on 4 areas:
- The compliance with the DSA obligations associated to countering the dissemination of unlawful content material within the EU.
- The effectiveness of measures taken to fight data manipulation on the platform.
- The measures taken by X to extend the transparency of its platform. The investigation issues suspected shortcomings in giving researchers entry to X’s publicly accessible information.
- A suspected misleading design of the person interface, notably in relation to checkmarks linked to sure subscription merchandise, the so-called Blue checks.
What subsequent
After the formal opening of proceedings, the Fee will proceed to collect proof and permit it to take enforcement steps, similar to interim measures, and non-compliance choices. The Fee may settle for any dedication made by X to treatment on the issues topic to the continuing.
