EU reportedly sends X questions in official probe of firm over hate content material

The European Union (EU) has formally opened an investigation into X, the platform beforehand often called Twitter, to make sure it’s complying with the Digital Providers Act (DSA) following Hamas’ assault on Israel in early October and subsequent Israeli air assault on Gaza. In keeping with the request, this comes after “indications obtained by the Fee providers of the alleged spreading of unlawful content material and disinformation, specifically the spreading of terrorist and violent content material and hate speech.”

Earlier this week, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton despatched a letter to X proprietor Elon Musk alleging that the platform is “getting used to disseminate unlawful content material and disinformation within the EU.”

The EU is requesting that X present info associated to its investigation by October 18th. Investigators are reportedly asking X on what the corporate’s protocols are throughout disaster conditions, in keeping with the Monetary Occasions. In his letter from earlier this week, Brenton famous the media has broadly reported deceptive imagery on X that features earlier armed conflicts in addition to doctored ones.

The probe at X is the primary beneath the brand new DSA, the Monetary Occasions says. Below the regulation, tech giants like Meta, Google, and Amazon, which function “very giant on-line platforms” with thousands and thousands of customers, will be held responsible for content material that’s unlawful within the EU. The fee might, in critical instances, impose fines of as much as six p.c of worldwide income.