EU Launches Investigation Into Twitter's Handling of Hate Speech, Misinformation

The European Commission has made a formal request for information from Twitter over its handling of hate speech, misinformation, and violent terrorist content related to the Israel-Hamas war. This marks the first step in what could become the EU's inaugural investigation under the Digital Services Act, aimed at determining whether the platform complies with the new rules meant to protect users and curb the spread of harmful content.

Twitter's Response

Twitter, now known as X, has until Wednesday to respond to questions related to its crisis response protocol, with responses to other questions due by October 31. The commission stated that its next steps, which could include the opening of formal proceedings and penalties, would depend on X's replies. Representatives for X have not immediately responded to requests for comment.

X's CEO, Linda Yaccarino, previously stated that the site has removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts and taken down or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of content since the militant group's attack on Israel. However, some social media experts argue that these actions are merely "a drop in the bucket."

EU's Digital Services Act

The EU's Digital Services Act (DSA) came into effect in August and aims to force social media companies to step up policing of their platforms for illegal content, including terrorist material or illegal hate speech, under threat of hefty fines. Twitter's changes under Elon Musk, such as the financial incentive for posts that go viral, and the gutting of its workforce, including the content moderation team, have raised concerns about the platform's compliance with the DSA.

Twitter's Efforts to Combat Illegal Content

In her letter to European Commissioner Thierry Breton, Yaccarino outlined the steps taken by X to combat illegal content flourishing on the platform. She mentioned the removal or labeling of tens of thousands of pieces of content and the existence of 700 unique Community Notes related to the attacks and unfolding events. However, critics argue that Community Notes are not an "end-all solution" and that there are gaps that the feature cannot fill.

Other Social Media Platforms

Rivals such as TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook are also grappling with a flood of unsubstantiated rumors and falsehoods about the Middle Eastern conflict. EU Commissioner Breton has sent warning letters to TikTok and Meta, urging them to step up efforts in tackling disinformation and illegal content.

The EU's request for information from Twitter marks a significant step in enforcing the Digital Services Act and ensuring that social media platforms take responsibility for the content shared on their platforms. The outcome of this investigation will set an important precedent for future enforcement actions and the broader fight against hate speech, misinformation, and violent terrorist content online.