A recent transparency report on X revealed that the platform has cut its team of content moderators by almost 20 percent since the previous report in October.
The European Commission has sent X (formerly Twitter) a request for information on the declining resources of the platform’s content moderation under EU laws related to the Digital Services Act (DSA).
In an update posted yesterday (May 8), the Commission said the request seeks to obtain more details on X’s content moderation activities and resources. It also wants X to provide details on the risk assessment carried out by the owned company of Elon Musk. especially in relation to the implementation of AI generating tools in the EU.
This comes after a recent transparency report for X under DSA revealed that the platform has reduced its team of content moderators by almost 20 percent since the previous report in October 2023, reducing language coverage within the EU from 11 European languages at seven.
“[We are] also requesting further details on risk assessments and mitigation measures related to the impact of AI-generating tools on electoral processes, the distribution of illegal content and the protection of fundamental rights,” the update said.
The commission opened formal proceedings against X in December to assess whether the platform breached the terms of the DSA – which came into force in August last year.
“Today’s opening of formal proceedings against X makes it clear that, with the DSA, the time of large online platforms behaving as if they are ‘too big to care’ is over,” said the market commissioner. insider Thierry Breton at the time.
“We now have clear rules, ex ante obligations, strong oversight, swift enforcement and preventive sanctions, and we will fully use our toolbox to protect our citizens and our democracies.”
Now, the Commission says X must provide the requested information about the sources of content moderation by May 17 and the remaining questions by May 27. The company may be subject to periodic penalty payments if it fails to do so.
In March, the EU issued new electoral guidelines for online giants such as Meta, TikTok and X ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections in June, including requirements around the creation of internal electoral teams, the promotion of official information on electoral processes and the adoption of measures to reduce the risk. presented by generative AI.
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Elon Musk speaking at TED2017. Image: Marla Aufmuth/TED Conference via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
