The European Union Launches an Investigation into Musk’s X for Potential Violations of Social Media Regulations

The European Union has initiated an investigation to determine if Elon Musk’s online platform, X (previously known as Twitter), has violated the newly implemented, stringent social media regulations aimed at reducing harmful online content. This marks the first investigation of its kind under the Digital Services Act (DSA), as announced by European Commissioner Thierry Breton via a post on the platform.

Johannes Bahrke, a spokesperson, confirmed at a press briefing in Brussels that the Commission is examining X’s systems and policies for potential breaches, though the investigation’s outcome remains open.

Key areas of the investigation include X’s efforts to limit the spread of illegal content and the effectiveness of its measures against “information manipulation,” particularly through its Community Notes feature. The EU will also assess the transparency of X with researchers and scrutinize suspicions around its user interface, including the design of its blue check subscription service, for potentially misleading elements.

X has expressed its commitment to adhering to the Digital Services Act and is cooperating with the regulatory process. The company emphasized its focus on fostering a safe, inclusive environment while upholding freedom of expression.

The Digital Services Act imposes stricter oversight on major tech companies, with penalties potentially reaching up to 6% of their global revenue, which could amount to billions, or even a ban from operating in the EU. The DSA sets comprehensive standards to protect users online and prevent the dissemination of harmful content, whether illegal (like child sexual abuse or terrorism content) or in violation of a platform’s terms of service (such as promoting genocide or anorexia).

The EU has previously criticized X as a platform with significant issues regarding fake news. Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict, EU officials have urged Musk, who acquired the platform a year ago, to intensify efforts to address hate speech, misinformation, and content related to violent terrorism on the platform.