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Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Be Interactive

2023-10-19 08:50:12

Elon Musk had been warned that platform X was being used to spread illegal content and misinformation, but didn't seem to believe it.

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: Getty Images

Elon Musk has been forced to delete numerous messages of misinformation and propaganda from accounts linked to Hamas, announced Linda Yaccarino, the new CEO of X, better known as Twitter.

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: Getty Images

The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, published a letter to Elon Musk on October 10, claiming that the X platform was being used to disseminate illegal content and misinformation,

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: WennCover

Breton reminded Musk that X was thus contravening the terms of the Digital Services Act, while giving him 24 hours to respond.

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: Getty Images

"Following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against Israel, we have indications of X/Twitter being used to disseminate illegal content & disinformation in the EU," the commissioner said on X.

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: WennCover

Musk and Breton also exchanged a few words on the subject on the social network, while Elon Musk replied: "Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports. Please list the violations you allude to on X, so that that the public can see them."

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: WennCover

"You are well aware of your users’ — and authorities’— reports on fake content and glorification of violence. Up to you to demonstrate that you walk the talk. My team remains at your disposal to ensure DSA compliance, which the EU will continue to enforce rigorously," Breton replied.

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: Getty Images

And it looks like Breton was right, as X's CEO announced a few days later that several thousand law-breaking publications had been removed, and that resources had been added to moderate the platform.

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: Getty Images

"In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we've redistributed resources and refocused internal teams who are working around the clock to address this rapidly evolving situation," Yaccarino wrote on X.

Elon Musk forced to delete propaganda publications linked to Hamas

Credit: Getty Images

Remember that since acquiring X, formerly Twitter, Elon Musk has been criticized for making a series of drastic changes there, including firing his content moderation team, and that these decisions have significantly increased illegal content on the platform .

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