The European Commission has launched an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
The move comes as the group has voiced concerns about X’s alleged failure to moderate “misinformation” in compliance with the Digitial Services Act (DSA).
According to a press release from the European Commission, the investigation will focus on “areas linked to risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency and data access for researchers.”
The inquiry will also analyze the platform’s “compliance with the DSA obligations related to countering the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, notably in relation to the risk assessment and mitigation measures adopted by X to counter the dissemination of illegal content in the EU, as well as the functioning of the notice and action mechanism for illegal content in the EU mandated by the DSA, including in light of X’s content moderation resources.”
Other areas of investigation include the “effectiveness of measures taken to combat information manipulation on the platform” and the “measures taken by X to increase the transparency of its platform.”
“If proven, these failures would constitute infringements of Articles 34(1), 34(2) and 35(1), 16(5) and 16(6), 25(1), 39 and 40(12) of the DSA. The Commission will now carry out an in-depth investigation as a matter of priority. The opening of formal infringement proceedings does not prejudge its outcome,” the statement says.
Today we open formal infringement proceedings against @X :
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) December 18, 2023
⚠️ Suspected breach of obligations to counter #IllegalContent and #Disinformation
⚠️ Suspected breach of #Transparency obligations
⚠️ Suspected #DeceptiveDesign of user interface#DSA pic.twitter.com/NxKIif603k
