After the alarming Hamas attacks on Israel, the social media titan, X removes Hamas-Linked accounts. The company’s resolute stand against terror is evident in their statement, “There is no place on X for terrorist organisations.”
The swift counteraction from X can be traced back to the European Union industry chief, Thierry Breton’s pressing 24-hour ultimatum to the platform’s known influencer, Elon Musk. Breton emphatically called on Musk to curb the tide of disinformation rampant on X, in line with the EU’s newly minted online content regulations.
The EU’s recent legislation, the Digital Services Act (DSA), obligates major digital platforms, like X and Meta’s Facebook, to intensify efforts in eradicating illegal content. The aim is clear: to safeguard public safety and fortify democratic discourse.
Underlining the platform’s commitment to the public conversation, particularly during pivotal moments, X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, stated, “X understands the importance of addressing any illegal content disseminated through the platform. We continue to remove such accounts in real-time.”
Everyday we're reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users. In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we've redistributed… https://t.co/VR2rsK0J9K
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) October 12, 2023
Post the Hamas attack, X didn’t waste time in assembling a leadership team to navigate the situation. Yaccarino, in her written communication to Breton, affirmed X’s proactive approach. She highlighted the platform’s openness to deeper engagement with the EU, hinting at potential meetings to iron out prevailing concerns.
In adhering to the EU’s call for responsibility, X promptly acted on over 80 takedown requests within the specified timeframe. Moreover, the platform stated that Europol had not flagged any illegal content presence.
Thierry Breton, not limiting his concerns to X, also reached out to Meta recently. Meta was given a 24-hour span to outline measures taken against disinformation post the Israel attacks.
It’s essential to underscore the human toll of these recent events. Following the Hamas assault on October 7, Israel has witnessed a surge in fatalities, with numbers reaching 1,300. Additionally, approximately 3,300 individuals are injured, with 28 in critical condition and 350 in a severe state. There is also mounting concern for the fate of around 150 people, reportedly abducted by Hamas and taken to the Gaza Strip.
As platforms like X step up to thwart the spread of disinformation, the world watches closely, hoping for a balance between freedom of expression and safeguarding public discourse.