X has removed hundreds of accounts linked to Hamas, CEO says
X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, has removed hundreds of accounts linked to Palestinian militant group Hamas after the attacks on Israel, the CEO confirmed.
In a letter to Thierry Breton, the European Union (EU)’s Commission for Internal Market, X CEO Linda Yaccarino laid out a series of steps the platform has taken in recent days to “protect the public conservation,” ensure access to real-time information and “safeguard the platform” for users.
Yaccarcino said the platform “redistributed resources and refocused internal teams,” and is “proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis.”
Her response comes after Breton sent a letter to X owner Elon Musk on Tuesday, warning the social media platform was spreading illegal content and disinformation in the wake of the Hamas attacks. Breton called upon the company to respond within 24 hours, while noting the potential for noncompliance penalties.
Yaccarino told Breton the platform removed or labeled tens of thousands of pieces of content while Community Notes — a feature aimed at correcting misinformation — are attached to hundreds of posts “related to the attacks and unfolding events.”
“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,” she wrote.
The CEO also explained the platform was responding to over 80 takedown requests from EU member states in “a diligent and objective manner.”
Since the conflict began over the weekend, several photos and videos circulated the platform showing violence and carnage, as well as those of Hamas fighters taking Israelis hostage. Other posts included false claims or the misrepresentation of prior Israeli airstrikes.
While the spread of viral misinformation during a conflict is nothing new, some experts have argued the moderation policies changed under Musk’s leadership have contributed to the issue.
Since purchasing the platform nearly a year ago, Musk made it so accounts that subscribed to X’s blue-check service can get paid if their posts go viral, creating a financial incentive to post reaction-enticing content. Meanwhile, the company’s workforce, including its content moderation team, has been extremely cut down.
In a post earlier this week, X’s trust and safety team claimed it is “laser focused and dedicated to protecting the conversation on X and enforcing our rule as we continue to assess the situation on the platform.”
Fighting between Hamas and Israel continued Thursday, with the death toll rising to just more than 2,500 lives from both sides, including at least 22 Americans.
The Israeli military said more than 1,200 Israelis — including civilians and soldiers — have been killed, with another 3,000 wounded as of Thursday. In Gaza, an estimated 1,354 Palestinians have died and 6,049 others were injured, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The Associated Press contributed.
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