EU Commission opens proceedings against online platform X

The European Commission is opening proceedings against the online platform X (formerly Twitter). The aim is to investigate whether X has violated EU rules on risk management and content moderation, advertising transparency and data access for researchers, as the authority announced in Brussels on Monday.

It is also about so-called dark patterns. These are practices aimed at significantly distorting or impairing the user's ability to make an autonomous and informed choice or decision.

Misinformation and hate speech

X has long been criticized for not taking decisive enough action against misinformation and hate speech on the platform. The EU Commission had already sent an official request to the social network following numerous reports of illegal and misleading posts about the Gaza war. Online platforms are obliged by a new EU law on digital services (DSA) to take strict action against illegal content such as hate speech and incitement to hatred online.

According to the EU Commission, this is the first case to be brought against an online platform under the new law. Such proceedings could result in a heavy fine.

The investigation will now examine compliance with the regulations regarding the distribution of illegal content in the EU. The investigation will also focus on the question of how effective the measures against information manipulation and for more transparency on the platform are. In particular, the blue tick for accounts linked to subscriptions is to be put to the test. (sda)