The EU’s digital enforcer emphasized that the Digital Services Act (DSA) signifies the end of the era where major online platforms could act with an air of being ‘too big to care.’ The probe against X will focus on several key aspects of its operations, including the dissemination of illegal content, efforts to combat disinformation, restrictions on giving researchers access to data, and potentially deceptive practices associated with its Blue Tick subscription product.
The formal investigation will delve into four crucial areas:
- Dissemination of Illegal Content: The EU will scrutinize X’s role in the dissemination of illegal content, particularly in the context of Hamas’s terrorist attacks against Israel on October 7.
- Effectiveness in Combating Disinformation: The effectiveness of X’s efforts to combat disinformation will be under the EU’s microscope, reflecting the growing importance placed on platforms’ responsibility for content moderation.
- Restrictions on Data Access: The EU will investigate suspected restrictions on providing researchers access to X’s data, ensuring transparency and accountability in content-related matters.
- “Dark Patterns” and Blue Tick Subscription: Suspected deceptive practices, known as “dark patterns,” associated with X’s Blue Tick subscription product will be part of the comprehensive inquiry.
The DSA carries significant penalties for proven infringements, including fines of up to six percent of an online company’s global revenues. For serious and repeated violations, the EU can even ban a platform from operating within the 27-nation bloc.
Since Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 and its subsequent rebranding as X, the platform has witnessed considerable changes, including a reduction in content moderation and reinstatement of accounts of banned extremists and conspiracy theorists. These have raised concerns in the eyes of the public. The replacement of the verification system with a subscription-based Blue Tick offer added another layer of controversy.
The platform’s value has suffered a significant blow as aa result. Advertisers have deserted X, with up to half of the top 100 US advertisers stopping spending on the platform altogether by October 2022. As the EU launches a formal infringement probe into X, the outcome will not only shape the platform’s future but also set a precedent for other major online platforms. The investigation underscores the EU’s commitment to enforcing stringent regulations on content moderation and combatting disinformation in the digital age, holding even the most influential platforms accountable for their actions. The world will be watching closely as the legal proceedings unfold, anticipating the potential impact on the landscape of online communication and content dissemination.
Here is the article on the story:
EU launches ‘illegal content’ probe into Elon Musk’s X
Nicane Mayne – The Law Fanatic