Elon Musk’s X, previously known as Twitter, is under fire as a recent study by the European Commission suggests the platform has inadvertently become a megaphone for Russian propaganda about Ukraine. Despite the commitment of major social media platforms including Meta, to counter Russian misinformation, the study found that Russian disinformation against Ukraine is thriving. This research, conducted over a year, concluded that the uncontrolled spread of disinformation and hate speech would have violated the Digital Services Act, the EU’s social media law, had it been implemented last year.

Throughout 2022, the study observed a significant increase in the audience and reach of Kremlin-aligned social media accounts across Europe, with a further surge in the first half of 2023. According to experts, the dismantling of Twitter’s safety standards has been a significant contributor to this growth. The situation puts a spotlight on the EU’s aggressive regulatory approach towards government-sponsored disinformation, a stance that starkly contrasts with that of the United States. The Digital Services Act, now in effect for large social media sites, mandates these platforms to assess the risk of spreading false information, prevent algorithmic promotion of harmful content, and subject their performance to auditing.

Elon Musk’s X Accused of Amplifying Russian Propaganda about Ukraine

Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, has been implicated in a study by the European Commission for its role in increasing the reach of Russian propaganda about Ukraine. The research, which lasted for a year, revealed that Russian disinformation campaigns were thriving on major social media sites, despite their voluntary commitments to counter such activities.

Social Media’s Role in Disinformation Campaigns

The study concluded that the unrestricted propagation of disinformation and hate speech would have violated the Digital Services Act (DSA), an EU law on social media, had the law been in effect last year. "The audience and reach of Kremlin-aligned social media accounts increased substantially all over Europe during 2022," the study found. The reach and influence of these Kremlin-backed accounts have reportedly grown even more in the first half of 2023, driven mainly by the dismantling of Twitter’s safety standards.

The EU’s Aggressive Regulatory Approach

The European Union has adopted a more aggressive regulatory approach to government-sponsored disinformation than the United States. The Digital Services Act, which came into force for the largest social media sites on August 25, mandates these platforms to assess the risk of spreading false information, prevent the worst from being promoted by algorithms, and subject their performance to auditing.

The Study’s Methodology and Findings

The study was carried out by Reset, a non-profit think tank advocating for more oversight of digital platforms. Due to the unavailability of full access to the data held by these companies, Reset relied on public information such as the number of interactions with problematic content from people who did not follow the account that posted it. Interestingly, the study found that Musk’s X was not the only platform failing to halt the spread of Russian propaganda. Other platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and Facebook were also criticized.

The Growing Tension Between Social Media and Regulatory Bodies

The tension between social media platforms and regulatory bodies has been on the rise. Earlier, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Thierry Breton, met with Mark Zuckerberg, the owner of Meta, and Elon Musk, the owner of Twitter. Musk had previously agreed that Twitter would undergo the Digital Services Act’s "stress test" to determine if the platform would meet EU standards. However, the results of this test would not be made public.

Personal Takeaways

The findings of this study underscore the urgent need for stricter content regulation policies on social media platforms. While the Digital Services Act is a step in the right direction, its effectiveness will depend on the willingness and commitment of these platforms to enforce it. The role of social media in disseminating disinformation is a serious concern that demands immediate attention and action. As consumers and users, we must also play our part in countering disinformation by being vigilant and critical of the content we consume and share.