Tech

The EU to Make an Example Out of Free Speech on X

  • Reading time: 2 min
free x, free, x, free speech, twitter, elon musk, EU, DSA

As expected, the EU has officially launched its proceedings against X, targeting the platform’s approach to free speech.

  • The EU suspects X of violating the Digital Services Act (DSA).
  • The act mandates stringent measures for large online platforms to address illegal content and public security threats.
  • The platform is accused of a suspected breach of obligations to counter illegal content and disinformation, among other things.

The EU has initiated formal proceedings against social media platform X for suspected breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

For the better part of the last year, the EU has been talking about its DSA and its intentions to force social media platforms to conform to what they deem as acceptable behavior regarding censorship and misinformation. The DSA mandates very large online platforms and search engines to take more extensive measures in addressing illegal content and potential threats to public security. Failure to comply may result in significant fines or suspension.

This comes after two months of EU’s announcement that X was under scrutiny for the possible dissemination of terrorist and violent content, as well as hate speech. At the time, X removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts.

Now, it’s making an example out of Elon Musk’s X, the only social media platform not censoring its users. As such, The EU’s Digital Commissioner, Thierry Breton, has accused X of breaching regulations related to countering illegal content, disinformation, and transparency obligations.

Breton outlined the alleged infringements in an X post. Am I allowed to point out the irony?

In response, the firm stated that it’s committed to complying with the DSA.

The investigation will investigate various aspects of X’s operations, especially the effectiveness of the “Community Notes” system. This system allows users to collaboratively add context to potentially misleading posts. These notes can provide fact-checks, additional information, different perspectives, or simply clarify the content of the original post. Before you jump to conclusions, the notes are subject to review before publishing.

Nothing like a big company being humbled by some dude in his 20s after he called them out on false advertising.

Not only that but apparently the EU has a problem with X’s data access for researchers. The company has limited researchers’ access, leading to the cancellation, suspension, or modification of over 100 studies about the platform. I don’t like corporations, but it doesn’t take a capitalist to realize that a private company does not owe anyone access.  

Elon Musk, X’s owner, was not having it.

I hate to say this, but the Mad Man has a point. How is the DSA going to police X while there are literal pedophile and child trafficking rings running amok on other platforms? *coughs* Instagram *cough*

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