Rabat – The European Union has issued a stern warning to tech mogul Elon Musk, expressing concerns that the social media platform X is being used as a channel to propagate “disinformation” in the aftermath of the recent Hamas attack on Israel.
In a public statement posted on X, Thierry Breton, the Commissioner for the Internal Market of the European Union, emphasized that “violent and terrorist content” remained accessible on the platform, despite EU regulations requiring prompt removal.
While Musk claimed that his company had already taken action, including the removal of newly-created Hamas-affiliated accounts, he challenged the EU to provide a list of the alleged violations.
Commissioner Breton’s letter to Musk did not delve into specific instances of disinformation but highlighted the widespread reports of “fake and manipulated images and facts” circulating on the social media platform. He called on Musk to ensure the effectiveness of his platform’s systems and to report on the crisis measures taken to address the issue.
This warning from the EU comes in the wake of a recent attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel, which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives and the taking of dozens of hostages. In response, Israeli forces launched a series of missile strikes on Gaza, leading to a death toll exceeding 900 people.
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Elon Musk responded to the EU warnings with a post on X, defending his platform’s commitment to openness and transparency, values he asserted were supported by the EU. He requested a comprehensive list of the violations alluded to in the EU’s warning to enable the public to assess the situation.
In his rebuttal, Commissioner Breton reminded Musk that he was “well aware of your users’ – and authorities’ – reports on fake content and glorification of violence” and urged him to demonstrate a concrete commitment to rectifying the issue.
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which was enacted last November, is aimed at safeguarding the interests of users on major tech platforms.
Companies have been given a grace period to ensure their systems comply with the new regulations, emphasizing the importance of swiftly addressing the issue of disinformation and its potential consequences on platforms like X.
