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LONDON, Dec. 1 (AP) – A top European Union official warned Elon Musk on Wednesday that Twitter needs to step up efforts to protect users from hate speech, misinformation and other harmful content to avoid violating new rules , the rules could threaten hefty fines or even a G27 ban from the tech giants.
EU digital policy commissioner Thierry Breton has told the billionaire Tesla chief executive that the social media platform will have to step up efforts to comply with new rules due to come into force next year, known as the Digital Services Act .
The two held a video call to discuss Twitter’s preparations for laws that would require tech companies to better police material on its platform that, for example, promotes terrorism, child sexual abuse, hate speech and commercial fraud. It’s part of a new digital rulebook that has made Europe a global leader in a push to rein in the power of social media companies, potentially clashing with Musk’s vision for a freer Twitter.
Breton said he was pleased to hear that Musk thought the EU rules were “a smart way to implement them globally.”
According to the content of the call released by Brittany’s office, Musk said: “But we must also be clear that there is still a lot of work to be done in the future.” “Twitter must implement a transparent user policy, vigorously strengthen content review and protect freedom of speech, Resolutely combat disinformation and limit targeted advertising.”
After Musk, a self-described “free speech absolutist,” bought Twitter a month ago, groups that monitor the platform for racism, anti-Semitism and other toxic speech, such as the Internet Civil Rights Initiative, said it was doing so worldwide. The growth rate has been rising facto digital public square.
Musk has expressed interest in reversing many of Twitter’s previous rules aimed at combating misinformation, most recently dropping enforcement of its COVID-19 misinformation policy. He has already reinstated some high-profile accounts that violated Twitter’s content rules, and has promised “amnesty” to restore most suspended accounts starting this week.
Twitter did not respond to an emailed request for comment. In another blog post on Wednesday, the company said “human safety” is its top priority and that its trust and safety team “continues to work hard to ensure the platform is free from hateful behavior, abusive behavior and any behavior that violates Twitter’s rules.” Impact.”
Yet Musk has already laid off half of the company’s 7,500 employees, as well as countless contractors who handle content moderation. Many others have resigned, including the company’s trust and safety chief.
In a conference call on Wednesday, Musk agreed to let the European Commission conduct a “stress test” at Twitter’s headquarters early next year to help the platform comply with the new regulations ahead of schedule, the report said.
It will also help the company prepare for an “extensive independent audit” required by new laws aimed at protecting internet users from illegal content and reducing the distribution of harmful but legal material.
Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines of up to 6% of a company’s annual global revenue and a possible ban from doing business in the EU’s single market.
Along with European regulators, Musk risks running afoul of Apple and Google, which power most of the world’s smartphones. Both have strict policies against misinformation, hate speech and other inappropriate behavior, and previously made it mandatory to launch apps such as social media platform Parler from their devices. Applications must also meet specific data security, privacy, and performance standards.
Musk tweeted this week, without providing evidence, that Apple “threatened to remove Twitter from its App Store, but wouldn’t tell us why.” Apple has yet to comment. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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