The European Union has announced the initiation of infringement proceedings against Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The investigation is in response to suspected breaches of the DSA, including failure to combat content disinformation and manipulation, deceptive design of the user interface, and suspected breach of transparency obligations. This move marks the first such probe under the DSA, which came into force several months ago, placing extra obligations on major companies to protect users against extreme content, with fines and suspensions in place for non-compliance.
European Union lawsuit against X
The EU says it would file a “formal infringement lawsuit” against social media company “X” (formerly Twitter). The grounds for filing the lawsuit is failure to “effectively combat illegal content and false information.” European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager said
“We will treat all violations of EU regulations strictly. The evidence we currently have is sufficient to formally initiate proceedings against X.”
The EU wants to regulate such big tech companies under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into effect in November last year. This new regulation requires large online platforms and search engines to take more measures to deal with illegal content and public safety risks, and to ensure that their services are not affected by “manipulative technologies.”
Background
The DSA, which came into force in August, requires large online platforms with more than 45 million active users to actively tackle illegal content and disinformation while balancing this with freedom-of-expression concerns. The European Commission launched the proceedings under the DSA based on an analysis of the risk assessment report submitted by X, its Transparency report published on 3 November, and X’s replies to a formal request for information.
Gizchina News of the week
EU Commissioner, Thierry Breton said that under the EU’s comprehensive new regulations on the Digital Market Act, some large technology companies will face increasingly stringent scrutiny. The European Commission also said the investigation will focus on the effectiveness of measures to combat the spread of illegal content within the EU, combat information manipulation, in particular the “community notes” system, and the steps X has taken to increase the transparency of its platform.
Musk’s Response
In response to the announcement, X, run by Elon Musk, stated that it remains focused on creating a safe and inclusive environment for all users on the platform while protecting freedom of expression. The company emphasized the importance of the process of remaining free of political influence and following the law.
Expert Response
Thierry Breton, the EU’s Digital Commissioner, has been vocal about the need for social media platforms to comply with the DSA. He has emphasized that the EU will be watching X’s actions and has warned that following the opening of a potential investigation and a finding of non-compliance, penalties can be imposed.
The investigation will look into whether X failed to do enough to curb the spread of illegal content, especially through its crowd-sourced Community Notes fact-checking feature, and whether its mitigations against the dissemination of illegal content, particularly in the context of Hamas’ terrorist attacks, were effective.
Final Words
The European Union lawsuit against X is a significant development in the regulation of social media platforms. The investigation will shed light on X’s compliance with the DSA and its efforts to combat disinformation and illegal content, with potential implications for the platform’s operations in the EU. Elon Musk’s response and expert opinions on this matter reflect the ongoing tension between major tech companies and regulatory authorities regarding online content moderation and transparency.
Author Bio
Efe Udin is a seasoned tech writer with over seven years of experience. He covers a wide range of topics in the tech industry from industry politics to mobile phone performance. From mobile phones to tablets, Efe has also kept a keen eye on the latest advancements and trends. He provides insightful analysis and reviews to inform and educate readers. Efe is very passionate about tech and covers interesting stories as well as offers solutions where possible.
