The European Union has officially initiated proceedings against Twitter, now known as X, accusing the platform of violating rules related to countering illegal content, disinformation, and transparency. The allegations were outlined by Thierry Breton, the Digital Commissioner, in a post on the X social media platform.
Owned by Elon Musk, X is also under suspicion of breaching transparency obligations. The company responded by stating it is cooperating with the regulatory process and emphasized the importance of maintaining a process free from political influence and in compliance with the law. X affirmed its dedication to creating a safe and inclusive environment for users while protecting freedom of expression.
These proceedings mark the first formal actions taken under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a set of stringent rules introduced by the EU to regulate major tech firms. The DSA imposes additional responsibilities on large companies to safeguard users against extreme content, with potential consequences including substantial fines or suspension for non-compliance.
Johannes Bahrke, a spokesperson for the EU Commission, clarified that the initiation of proceedings means the Commission will investigate X’s systems and policies regarding suspected infringements, emphasizing that it does not prejudge the outcome.
In October, the EU announced an investigation into X regarding the potential spread of terrorist and violent content, as well as hate speech, following an attack by Hamas on Israel. X responded by stating it had removed numerous Hamas-affiliated accounts from its platform.
The latest steps in the investigation include an examination of the effectiveness of X’s Community Notes system, designed for contributors to comment on the accuracy of posts as a measure against disinformation.
Concerns about the platform’s content have escalated since Elon Musk’s acquisition, particularly due to a reduction in moderators. The European Commission had previously warned that X had the most significant disinformation problem among major platforms.
In the United States, controversies surrounding extremist material on the platform led to an advertising boycott, a dispute between Musk and a campaign group, and speculation about X facing financial challenges.