ALBAWABA – In the wake of Hamas’ Al-Aqsa Flood operation and all the support it mustered online, news agencies reported Wednesday that Elon Musk’s X is under EU pressure over pro-Palestine content that was labelled “illegal” and described as “disinformation”.
European Union (EU) Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton sent a letter to Musk on Tuesday, claiming that his platform, X, formerly Twitter, is spreading "illegal content and disinformation", according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Having raised the cap on free speech, many pro-Palestine activists have taken to X to express views that would otherwise be censored or get them blocked and reported on other social media platforms.
The letter said concerns had heightened after Hamas launched a large-scale operation against Israeli targets and settlements. The operation found significant support among pro-Palestine audiences on social media, who shared footage and content in support of the Palestinians' strife for freedom. Now, Musk's X is under EU pressure for supposedly failing to moderate the content supporting Hamas and the Palestinians.
Berton demanded that Musk respond to the complaint within 24 hours and contact the "relevant law enforcement authorities", as reported by AFP.
Notably, Breton is in charge of regulating internet giants that trade within the bloc and can launch legal action against Musk and his platform.
In the letter sent to Musk, Brenton wrote that following Hamas’ offensive, “we have indications that your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU".
Breton reminded Musk that EU law sets tough rules on moderating content, "especially when it comes to violent and terrorist content that appears to circulate on your platform".
The tech-billionaire bought Twitter late last year and now Musk's X is under EU pressure over pro-Palestine content - Shutterstock
He asked that Musk’s X respond to his complaint within 24 hours and that he also get in touch with Europol, the EU police coordinating agency.
"We will include your answer in our assessment file on your compliance with the DSA," Breton said, referring to the new EU Digital Services Act, which regulates online platforms.
"I remind you that following the opening of a potential investigation and a finding of non-compliance, penalties can be imposed," it said.
Musk, responding later on X to a user who had posted the letter, invited Breton to "please list the violations you allude to".
"Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports," he said.
Musk bought Twitter last year and has since carried out various changes to the platform, including policy shifts to enable unfettered free speech, and has rebranded it as X.
