'No Place For Terrorist Groups': Elon Musk's X Removes Hundreds Of Hamas-Linked Accounts

California: In the wake of recent Hamas attacks on Israel, social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has taken a decisive stance against terrorism. The platform swiftly removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts, reinforcing their commitment to combating illegal content and terrorist organizations on its platform.

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, emphasized the platform's dedication to fostering a safe and responsible public conversation, especially during critical events like the ongoing conflict. Yaccarino made it clear that X would not tolerate terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups on their platform, reiterating their ongoing efforts to proactively remove such accounts in real-time.

"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. There is no place on X for terrorist organisations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real-time, including proactive groups," said the social media platform's CEO, Linda Yaccarino.

 

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

 

EU's Ultimatum & Regulatory Compliance

 

This rapid response by X was triggered by a 24-hour ultimatum issued by European Union industry chief Thierry Breton to Elon Musk, the key figure behind X, urging action to curb the spread of disinformation on the platform and ensure compliance with new EU online content regulations. Breton expressed concerns over the alleged use of the platform for disseminating illegal content and disinformation within the European Union.

Under the recently implemented EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), prominent online platforms like X and Meta's Facebook (META.O) are mandated to take more proactive measures in removing illegal content and addressing threats to public security and civic discourse.

Yaccarino highlighted that, in response to the recent attack, X swiftly convened a leadership group to assess the situation and take appropriate action.

In a letter directed to Breton, Yaccarino expressed X's eagerness to engage further with the EU and its team, including the possibility of a meeting to address specific concerns. The CEO eagerly awaited additional details, enabling the platform to respond effectively to the outlined expectations.

X reported a proactive response to over 80 takedown requests from the EU within the stipulated time frame and confirmed no notices from Europol regarding illegal content on their platform, as stated in the letter.

A Warning To Meta And Ongoing Crisis

 

In a similar vein, Thierry Breton issued a stern warning to Meta on October 9, granting the company 24 hours to furnish information about actions taken to combat disinformation spread through its platforms following the attack in Israel.

The gravity of the situation is reflected in the rising death toll in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, with casualties reaching 1,300, and over 3,300 reported injuries. Among them, 28 are in critical condition and 350 in serious condition, as reported by The Times of Israel, citing Hebrew media sources. The fate of approximately 150 individuals abducted and taken to the Gaza Strip during the Hamas attack remains uncertain, underscoring the ongoing crisis.