EU's Warning to Elon Musk: Tackle Hamas' Misinformation on X – Take Action Now

EU Commissioner Thierry Breton has issued a stern warning to Elon Musk, emphasizing the urgent need for action to combat disinformation on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. This request follows recent attacks staged by Hamas against Israel, which have raised alarms about the spread of illegal content and misinformation across social media. Breton's tweet highlighted concerns regarding the platform's role in disseminating harmful information within the EU.

The backdrop of this warning is dire. Hamas militants launched a surprise multi-pronged attack on Israel over the weekend, deploying missiles from the Gaza Strip and infiltrating Israeli territory via land and sea. The assault resulted in the tragic loss of 1,300 Israeli lives and left an additional 150 individuals taken hostage. In response, Israel undertook significant military action, bombarding Gaza and imposing strict restrictions on essential resources, including food, water, and fuel. Reports indicate that more than 1,400 Palestinians have died as a result.

Historically, Hamas, officially known as the Islamic Resistance Movement, has opposed Israel’s occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, a situation rooted in the outcomes of the Arab-Israeli War of 1967. The recent escalation has, however, also prompted a wave of cyberattacks against Israeli interests. The Russian cyber group Killnet has threatened to launch coordinated denial-of-service attacks targeting Israeli government websites, citing Israel's support for Ukraine and NATO as a motivating factor.

In his correspondence to Musk, Breton underscored the need for compliance with the EU's Digital Services Act, which stipulates clear and precise guidelines for content moderation. He stressed that X must be transparent about which types of content are allowed and enforce these rules diligently, particularly concerning the proliferation of violent and terrorist-related material.

Breton pointed out alarming findings from media and civil society organizations, which have detected a range of “fake and manipulated images” circulating on the platform. These include repurposed footage from unrelated conflicts and even clips sourced from video games, further underscoring the challenges faced in maintaining content integrity.

Musk is now faced with a 24-hour deadline to address these compliance issues. Should X fail to meet these expectations, the platform risks facing significant penalties, potentially totaling up to 6% of its global revenue. The situation raises critical questions not just about responsibility in content moderation but also about the broader implications of digital platforms in times of crisis.

This ongoing dialogue around digital governance and disinformation highlights an essential moment for accountability in the digital landscape, affecting not only the EU but also the global community's approach to misinformation on social media.