The European Union accuses X of misleading its users

Photo: Kenzo Tribouillard Agence France-Presse The European Digital Commissioner, Thierry Breton

Daniel Aronssohn – Agence France-Presse in Brussels

Posted at 3:43 p.m.

• Europe

Social network /p>

Brussels also judges that Elon Musk's firm is in violation of its transparency obligations regarding the advertisements broadcast and access to the platform's data for researchers.

This charge constitutes a first under the new EU regulation on digital services (DSA), which came into force last year to protect Internet users against content deemed dangerous .

It could lead in the coming months to a final decision of non-compliance if the group does not correct the deficiencies noted, then to financial sanctions of up to 6% of the global annual turnover of X (formerly Twitter). No deadline is set for completing these procedures.

« i>check mark in English) in a manner which does not correspond to industry practices and misleads users”, deplored the Commission.

“Anyone can subscribe to obtain such a “verified” status, undermining the ability of users to make free and informed decisions about the authenticity of the accounts with which they interact . There is evidence that malicious actors are abusing the system, denounced the European executive.

“A democratized system that allows everyone to obtain a certified account is better than a functionality granted only to a privileged few,” reacted the executive director of X, Linda Yaccarino.

A “secret deal”

The European Commission, digital policeman in the EU, is also continuing investigations which may lead two additional accusations: dissemination of illegal content and insufficient efforts against information manipulation.

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

Elon Musk expressed his wrath on X: “The DSA IS disinformation ! » he replied, accusing Brussels of having tried to negotiate a “secret deal” with him to “censor content without saying it”.

“There has never been – and there never will be – a “secret agreement”. With anyone,” counter-attacked the European Digital Commissioner, Thierry Breton, on X.

“It's up to you whether or not you want to offer commitments…See you soon (in court or not),” he added, in a message directly addressed to Elon Musk.

Brussels was concerned in September about the particularly high quantity of false information published on X, after tests carried out on several social networks.

A preliminary procedure was opened on October 12, five days after the attacks by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas against Israel, then a formal investigation was launched in December.

The list of grievances was particularly long: low number of moderators, ineffective reporting system for illegal content, insufficient warning messages against violent images…

Freedom of expression

After buying Twitter in 2022, Elon Musk carried out a massive wave of layoffs that decimated the social network's moderation teams. He defends a radical vision of freedom of expression, rejecting any form of censorship, even if he assures that he wants to respect the laws of each country.

The DSA requires all online platforms to set up a system for reporting problematic content and to act “promptly” to remove any illicit content or to make access to it impossible as soon as they become aware of it.

In terms of advertising, platforms must allow each user to know the parameters used to target them as well as the financers of the ads.

A group of 25 particularly influential digital players, of which X is a member, must also offer approved researchers access to the data that feeds their algorithms so that compliance with the regulation can be monitored. 60~p>In addition to Elon Musk's network, three other large platforms – TikTok, AliExpress and Meta – are the subject of formal procedures from Brussels, without having yet reached the level of indictment announced Friday for X.

After opening an investigation in April, TikTok was forced to suspend a feature that rewarded users for screen time and was accused of inciting addiction. The social network, whose parent company is Chinese, is also the target of another investigation opened in February for insufficient protection of minors.

The online commerce site AliExpress, a subsidiary of the Chinese giant Alibaba, has been targeted since March for the sale of dangerous products such as fake medicines.

Finally, in April and May, the EU opened procedures against the social networks Facebook and Instagram of the Meta group, accused of insufficient efforts against disinformation, but also of causing addictions in children and of not sufficiently protecting them against “inappropriate content “.