The European Commission has initiated legal proceedings against Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), marking the first-ever investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA). The probe will examine whether X has breached EU regulations in various areas, including risk management, content moderation, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers. This action follows the Commission’s October request for information from X, amid concerns about the platform’s handling of illegal content and disinformation, particularly related to terrorist and violent content during the Israel-Hamas conflict.
X, having 112 million monthly active users in the EU, is one of 17 platforms designated under the DSA as a “very large online platform.” It is thus subject to stringent norms on the dissemination of illegal content and public security. The Commission’s investigation could lead to a fine of up to 6% of X’s global turnover, approximately $264 million (€242 million), if it finds sufficient evidence of non-compliance and fails to secure binding commitments from the platform.
Musk has reportedly considered exiting the European market in reaction to the DSA’s provisions. The Commission will conduct interviews and on-site inspections and request access to X’s algorithmic databases as part of the investigation, which does not have a set deadline. The Commission will continue to monitor the platform’s compliance with all DSA obligations and may take further action if more wrongdoing is detected.
Furthermore, Twitter was the only major tech company to provide an incomplete report on its implementation of the EU’s anti-disinformation charter, falling short of data and lacking a plan for cooperation with fact-checkers. The code is voluntary, but compliance can ease obligations under the DSA and avoid hefty fines. Large fines may apply from September 2023 for platforms with over 45 million users in the EU, a category expected to include X.
Primary Sources: Euronews, Politico EU
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