SAN FRANCISCO: In response to the recent Hamas attack on Israel, the X social media platform has taken decisive action by removing hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and implementing measures to either remove or label tens of thousands of pieces of content.
This response follows an ultimatum from EU industry chief Thierry Breton to address disinformation on the platform, formerly known as Twitter, to comply with new EU online content regulations.
Breton expressed concerns that X was being utilized to disseminate illegal content and disinformation within the European Union. The recently enacted Digital Services Act (DSA) mandates that major online platforms, including X and Meta’s Facebook, remove illegal content and take steps to mitigate risks to public security and civic discourse.
To meet these requirements, X has reallocated resources and refocused its internal teams to adapt to the swiftly evolving situation. The company assembled a leadership group to assess the situation shortly after the Hamas attack, demonstrating its commitment to addressing these concerns.
X’s chief executive, Linda officer Yaccarino, has extended an offer of further engagement and a meeting with EU industry chief Thierry Breton to discuss specific questions and details related to their response.
The platform has been proactive in responding to over 80 take-down requests from the EU within the required timeframe. Furthermore, X has not received any notices from Europol regarding illegal content on its platform, as stated in the letter.
Breton’s ultimatum to X follows a similar warning issued to Meta, giving both companies 24 hours to report measures taken to combat the spread of disinformation on their platforms following the Hamas attack on Israel.
