European Union Charges Twitter X With Breaking The Law

Uploaded on 2023-12-28 in TECHNOLOGY-Key Areas-Social Media, FREE TO VIEW, BUSINESS-Services-Law

The European Union (EU) has launched legal action and is using its Digital Services Act (DSA) against the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, saying that it is breaking the rules about illegal content and disinformation.

Digital commissioner Thierry Breton has laid out the apparent infringements in a post on social media.
He said X, which is owned by Elon Musk, was also suspected of breaching its obligations on transparency. In response, X has said it was "co-operating with the regulatory process".

This decision represents the first-ever proceedings under the DSA, which was designed to create a safer space online, and adds further turmoil to a company that has struggled to retain advertisers following the $44-billion acquisition by Elon Musk. The DSA places extra obligations on major companies to protect users against extreme content. "Today, we opened formal proceedings against X based on several suspected infringements of the Digital Services Act," an EU spokesman said. I

In a statement X said it was "important that this process remains free of political influence and follows the law... X is focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all users on our platform, while protecting freedom of expression, and we will continue to work tirelessly towards this goal"

These are the first formal proceedings launched under the tough new regulations for social media platforms. Under DSA rules the EU has powers to fine a company up to 6% of its global turnover for violating the rules, while repeated breaches could result in a miscreant being banned from doing business in the EU altogether.

In October the EU said it was investigating X over the possible spread of terrorist and violent content, and hate speech, after Hamas' attack on Israel. X said then that it had removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts from the platform.

Concerns about the nature of the content appearing on X have intensified since it was bought by Elon Musk when he dismissed many of its content moderators and the EU has previously warned that it considers X to have the biggest disinformation problem of any major social media platform.

Euronews: BBC: BBC: Guardian: Al Jazeera: France24:

Image: cbies

You Might Also Read:

Does Elon Musk Owning Twitter Increase Cyber Security Risks?:

___________________________________________________________________________________________

If you like this website and use the comprehensive 6,500-plus service supplier Directory, you can get unrestricted access, including the exclusive in-depth Directors Report series, by signing up for a Premium Subscription.