EU Commissioner, Thierry Breton announced the proceedings in a post on X itself.
By Lot Sunday
The European Union (EU) has launched a formal probe into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, over potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Marking the first investigation under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the European Union has formally probed Elon Musk’s social media giant, X, for potential non-compliance. This law requires online platforms with over 45 million active users to actively combat illegal content and safeguard public security.
EU Commissioner, Thierry Breton announced the proceedings in a post on X itself.
He tweeted, “Today we open formal infringement proceedings against @X under the Digital Services Act.”
The investigation will scrutinize X’s systems and policies related to suspected infringements without prejudging the outcome, according to spokesperson Johannes Bahrke.
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Key areas of focus include whether X adequately addressed the spread of illegal content, the effectiveness of measures against information manipulation, and the functionality of its crowd-sourced Community Notes fact-checking feature. Concerns over user interface, deceptive use of “verified” accounts, and limited access for researchers will also be examined.
Reacting to the investigation, X in a statement expressed commitment to DSA compliance and cooperation with the regulatory process.
The company emphasised its dedication to creating a safe and inclusive platform while protecting freedom of expression.
The DSA, enacted in November of the previous year, imposes obligations on online platforms to combat illegal content and mitigate risks to public security.
The EU initiated a preliminary investigation in October, reminding major platforms, including X, Meta, TikTok, and Alphabet, of their obligations under the DSA during Israel’s conflict with Hamas.
X, along with other platforms, responded by outlining steps taken to curb disinformation, however, the current investigation, initiated by the EU, will delve deeper into X’s practices.
The company’s Community Notes feature, launched earlier this year for users to flag false or misleading content, will undergo scrutiny as part of the inquiry.
The EU stated that the investigation will involve in-depth analysis, including additional requests for information, interviews, and inspections.
It will assess X’s transparency measures and investigate the suspected deceptive design of the user interface, such as the use of subscription-linked check marks, commonly known as “blue checks.”
The commission clarified that the preliminary investigation included an analysis of X’s reports and responses related to illegal content associated with Hamas’s attacks against Israel.
If found in breach, companies face fines of up to 6 percent of their global turnover under the DSA. The investigation underscores the EU’s commitment to enforcing rules on content moderation, user privacy, and transparency in the digital realm.
