EU says X is being used to spread illegal content, disinformation on Mideast conflict

ATHENS

The social media platform X is apparently being used to spread illegal content and disinformation in the ongoing escalation between Palestine and Israel, according to a top European Union official, warning that violations of the bloc’s rules could bring penalties.

In an open letter to Elon Musk, the platform’s billionaire owner, Thierry Breton, the EU commissioner for the internal market, said there are strong signs that violent and terrorist content circulates on X.

“We have, from qualified sources, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on your service despite flags from relevant authorities,” he said.

The platform should have proportionate and effective mitigation measures to tackle the risks to public security and civic discourse stemming from disinformation, Breton argued.

“I therefore invite you to urgently ensure that your systems are effective, and report on the crisis measures taken to my team,” he said, adding that Musk is expected to be in contact with the competent law enforcement authorities and Europol and cooperate with them.

Breton also said: “I urge you to ensure a prompt, accurate, and complete response to this request within the next 24 hours.”

In response, Musk said “Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports. Please list the violations you allude to on X, so that that the public can see them.”

Breton shot back: “You are well aware of your users’ – and authorities’ – reports on fake content and glorification of violence. Up to you to demonstrate that you walk the talk.”

Since Saturday, when the current Mideast conflict began, reports have come in of rampant disinformation on X, including old footage mislabeled or manipulated to make it seem like it is new, or even video game footage. Users complained that it was difficult to find genuine information amid all the false posts.

Since buying X (then known as Twitter) last year, Musk has come under fire for reinstating users previously banned for posting false content, gutting company teams meant to rein in misinformation, and blurring the lines between genuinely verified accounts and account users paid to be “verified.” Critics say the platform has become a haven for disinformation and abuse.

In a dramatic escalation of Mideast tensions, Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip, a response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories. The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea, and air, which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

In response to Hamas' actions, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.