X‘s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, expressed the platform’s commitment to facilitating public discourse, particularly during critical moments, while emphasizing the significance of addressing any illegal content shared through the platform. She stated, “There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups, and we continue to remove such accounts in real-time, including proactive groups.”
This rapid response by X can be attributed to a 24-hour ultimatum delivered by Thierry Breton, the European Union’s industry chief, to Elon Musk. Breton called on Musk to address disinformation spreading on X and adhere to the recently established EU online content rules.
Breton had concerns about the platform’s alleged role in disseminating unlawful content and misinformation within the European Union.
The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), recently put into effect, mandates that major online platforms, including X and Meta’s Facebook, must take a more proactive approach in eliminating unlawful content and addressing challenges to public safety and democratic discourse.
Yaccarino highlighted that, following the attack, X formed a leadership team to promptly assess the situation. In a written communication to Breton, she conveyed X’s readiness to engage in more extensive discussions with the EU, including arranging a meeting to address specific concerns.
X also confirmed its prompt response to over 80 takedown requests from the EU within the specified time frame. Tthe platform indicated that it had not received any notifications from Europol regarding illicit content on its platform.
Thierry Breton also issued a warning to Meta on October 9, providing the company with a 24-hour window to provide details about the steps taken to combat disinformation spread through its platforms in the aftermath of the Israel attack.
Significantly, following the Hamas attack on October 7, the reported death toll in Israel has risen to 1,300, with approximately 3,300 individuals sustaining injuries, including 28 classified as critical and 350 in serious condition. These figures were reported by The Times of Israel, citing Hebrew media reports.
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