Online hate surges after Hamas attacks Israel. Why everyone is blaming social media.
USA TodayOct 14, 2023
EU Investigating X Over 'Disinformation' Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
Image copyright: Chesnot [via Getty Images]
The Facts
The EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, is investigating X over concerns about the proliferation of disinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. The commission sent a formal request Thursday to obtain information from the platform.
Thierry Breton, The EU’s commissioner for the internal market, announced the investigation on X, saying that the platform formerly known as Twitter may not be complying with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which took effect in August.
The Spin
Narrative A
Elon Musk’s complete abandonment of standards and ethics knows no bounds, as he allows disinformation to circulate on his platform. Musk made it his mission to completely destroy any content moderation measures, and his policy is being exploited, adding to a heightened time of conflict as false information and hate speech is spread across social media. The EU has laws to protect people against such vile lies, and Musk must comply just like all other social media executives do.
Narrative B
The European Commission is unfairly targeting Elon Musk and X over claims of “disinformation” without providing a single example to back up its allegations. While other platforms receive non-binding warnings, X must comply with strict investigations in order to avoid absurd fines and a potential suspension. Just like most “expert” opinions, the threshold for “disinformation” is quite arbitrary and politically biased.