The social media platform X said it removed or labeled tens of thousands of posts linked to the terrorist group Hamas after European Union officials said the communication site was being used to disseminate illegal content.
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, reportedly said since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, X has identified and removed hundreds of accounts affiliated with the terrorist group from the platform.
“X is committed to serving the public conversation, especially in critical moments like this and understands the importance of addressing any illegal content that may be disseminated through the platform,” Yaccarino wrote in an October 11 response letter to EU officials. “There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts.”
Today @lindayaX responded to @ThierryBreton’s letter detailing our work in response to the terrorist attack on Israel. pic.twitter.com/yZtaOVGpHG
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) October 12, 2023
On Saturday, Hamas launched a barbaric attack on Israel that has so far killed at least 1,300 people, including 27 Americans, and injured approximately 3,000 others.
Several images and videos of the terrorist attacks have circulated on social media networks, including Elon Musk’s X platform, which has reportedly been used to spread false claims and misrepresent videos from events unrelated to the war between Israel and Hamas.
NBC News reported that researchers found a propaganda network of 67 X-accounts posting the content, including a manipulated video of Russian President Vladimir Putin telling the U.S. not to get involved in the war.
European Union commissioner Thierry Breton said in a letter to Musk that the 27-nation bloc’s digital rights enforcer had indications the site “was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation” that potentially violates the EU’s recently implemented Digital Services Act that requires social media platforms to police illegal content, such as terrorist material.
Yaccarino said the platform is “proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis” after the EU commissioner issued a 24-hour ultimatum for X officials to take action against the material.
“Every [day] we’re reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users,” Yaccarino said in a letter to Breton posted on X. “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.”
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Everyday we're reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users. In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we've redistributed… https://t.co/VR2rsK0J9K
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) October 12, 2023
Community Notes, a feature on the platform designed to involve users in correcting or adding additional context to false or misleading information, reported it identified 500 unique notes related to the conflict.
“We wish to reiterate that we welcome further engagement with you and your team, including a meeting, to address any specific questions and look forward to receiving further specifics to which we can respond,” Yaccarino wrote.
Breton also reportedly sent a similar letter to Meta on Wednesday to counter false or misleading information about the attack on Israel, giving the company 24 hours to respond to him with a plan of action.
“I would ask you to be very vigilant to ensure strict compliance with the [Digtial Services Act] rules on terms of service, on the requirement of timely, diligent and objective action following notices of illegal content in the EU, and on the need for proportionate and effective mitigation measures,” Breton told Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a letter.