EU identifies X platform as the dominant hub for disinformation, formerly recognized as Twitter

A study conducted by the European Commission has found that X, formerly known as Twitter, has the highest proportion of disinformation among six major social media platforms. The study analyzed more than 6,000 unique social media posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube. It focused on three countries - Spain, Poland, and Slovakia - which are considered at risk of disinformation due to elections or their proximity to the conflict in Ukraine. Vera Jourova, the EU's Values and Transparency Commissioner, warned X to comply with the law and stated that the platform will be closely monitored. The study, which prompted Jourova's comments, was carried out by TrustLab, a start-up monitoring disinformation, as part of efforts to support the EU's code of practice on disinformation. X, along with other social networks, had initially signed up to the voluntary code in 2018 but withdrew from it while under the leadership of Mr. Musk. However, X will still be subject to the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulates the behavior of major tech platforms. The EU intends to convert the voluntary code into a code of conduct under the act. Jourova emphasized that leaving the voluntary code does not exempt X from the DSA's enforcement. Companies that fail to comply with the act could face fines of up to six percent of their global turnover. The EU has accused social media companies of failing to prevent large-scale Russian disinformation campaigns since the invasion of Ukraine, with the influence of Kremlin-backed accounts increasing in 2023. Jourova stated that Russia has been engaging in the war of ideas to spread falsehoods and create a false perception that democracy is no better than autocracy. She called on social media platforms to address this risk, especially in light of the war in Ukraine and the upcoming European elections. Jourova also highlighted efforts to combat AI-generated disinformation ahead of the elections, including an upcoming meeting with representatives from OpenAI.