High-ranking European Union official Thierry Breton has issued a stern warning to Elon Musk regarding the proliferation of misinformation on X in light of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
(Photo : FRED TANNEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
French European commissionner Thierry Breton attends France's centrist Democratic Movement's (MoDem) summer university in Guidel, western France, on October 1, 2023.
Receiving Warning from EU
Commissioner Breton conveyed his concerns through an "urgent" letter to Musk, emphasizing the company's responsibility under the Digital Services Act concerning misinformation.
Engadget reported that this letter arrives in the midst of growing alarm among researchers and fact-checkers regarding a surge in misinformation on X following the events surrounding the Hamas attacks in Israel.
Despite Musk's recent action to remove headlines from shared links on the platform, the issue of verified users circulating misleading viral clips, falsely claiming them to be related to the ongoing conflict, continues to be a concern.
In the wake of the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas in Israel, concerns have arisen regarding the use of Musk's platform for the dissemination of unlawful content and misinformation within the European Union.
Breton's letter to Musk points out that the Digital Services Act specifies precise obligations pertaining to content moderation.
Specifically, Breton raised concerns about the proliferation of fabricated and altered images and information circulating on Musk's platform within the European Union, including the repurposing of dated images from unrelated conflicts and military footage originally sourced from video games.
He also expressed apprehension about the recent changes to the platform's public interest policy, noting that these modifications had left many European users uncertain about the type of content permitted.
Furthermore, Breton contended that X was not adequately responsive to requests related to potentially unlawful content on its platform. He emphasized the necessity for timely, diligent, and objective actions in removing such content when notified about it, in line with the European Union's requirements.
He highlighted reports from credible sources indicating that potentially illegal content continued to circulate on the service, despite receiving alerts from relevant authorities.
Inaccurate, Deceptive Information on X
Over the weekend, Hamas launched an unexpected attack on Israel, resulting in the tragic loss of numerous civilian lives. The aftermath of these events witnessed the rapid dissemination of inaccurate and deceptive information on social media, with X serving as a prominent platform for the spread of such content.
NCB News reported that verified users on X, who enjoy algorithmic advantages, appeared to evade significant consequences for their actions, including disseminating false content, sharing fabricated videos, or passing off dated or virtual footage as recent footage of the conflict.
The company, under the ownership of Elon Musk, has also made recurrent reductions to its trust and safety teams.
One particularly coordinated propaganda effort on X involved misrepresenting videos of Russian officials, falsely claiming that U.S. support for Israel would prompt them to provide military assistance to Palestine, further escalating the situation.
This campaign garnered millions of views, and many of the associated accounts remain visible on the platform.
Also Read: X Filled With Disinformation and Fake News About Israel-Hamas War
In an open letter, Breton highlighted the prevalent reports from public media and civil society organizations regarding the circulation of counterfeit and manipulated images and information on X within the European Union.
These included instances of repurposed older images from unrelated armed conflicts and military footage originally sourced from video games, presenting an evident problem of false and misleading content.
Related Article: Elon Musk's X to Take Crisis Response as Misinformation Surges Amid Israel-Hamas War
