Social media giant X, formerly known as Twitter, revealed on Thursday that it dropped the proverbial axe on tens of thousands of posts and accounts they say were linked to terrorist group Hamas, which launched a brutal series of terrorist attacks on Israel this past weekend, leaving thousands dead and thousands more injured, kidnapped, missing, raped, and beheaded. The sweep came as the result of officials with the European Union reported to the company that the platform was being utilized as a communication tool for the group to disseminate illegal content.
CEO of X, Linda Yaccarino, stated that since the terrorist attacks occurred, the company has went on a rampage tearing down hundreds of accounts found to be affiliated with Hamas, helping to ensure the terrorist organization is not able to use the platform to plan their activities against Israel, according to the Daily Wire.
“X is committed to serving the public conversation, especially in critical moments like this and understands the importance of addressing any illegal content that may be disseminated through the platform,” Yaccarino stated in an October 11 response letter addressed to EU officials. “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.”
Today @lindayaX responded to @ThierryBreton’s letter detailing our work in response to the terrorist attack on Israel. pic.twitter.com/yZtaOVGpHG
— Global Government Affairs (@GlobalAffairs) October 12, 2023
“Several images and videos of the terrorist attacks have circulated on social media networks, including Elon Musk’s X platform, which has reportedly been used to spread false claims and misrepresent videos from events unrelated to the war between Israel and Hamas,” the Daily Wire reported. “NBC News reported that researchers found a propaganda network of 67 X-accounts posting the content, including a manipulated video of Russian President Vladimir Putin telling the U.S. not to get involved in the war.”
“European Union commissioner Thierry Breton said in a letter to Musk that the 27-nation bloc’s digital rights enforcer had indications the site “was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation” that potentially violates the EU’s recently implemented Digital Services Act that requires social media platforms to police illegal content, such as terrorist material,” the Daily Wire continued.
Yaccarino then said the social media company is “proportionately and effectively assessing and addressing identified fake and manipulated content during this constantly evolving and shifting crisis” after the EU commissioner slapped the platform with a 24-hour ultimatum to take action against the material being posted on the site.
“Every [day] we’re reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users,” Yaccarino remarked in a letter to Breton that was published on X. “In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we’ve redistributed resources and refocused internal teams who are working around the clock to address this rapidly evolving situation.”
Everyday we're reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users. In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we've redistributed… https://t.co/VR2rsK0J9K
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) October 12, 2023
At least they are attempting to do something about the situation, though it is kind of crappy it took someone else to tell them to do their job and boot these accounts from the platform.
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