In a significant move, the European Commission has initiated formal infringement proceedings against Elon Musk’s X under the Digital Services Act (DSA). Notably, the proceedings stem from concerns related to risk management, content moderation, dark patterns, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers.
Meanwhile, this marks a pivotal moment as the EU flexes its regulatory muscles, targeting one of the largest online platforms with 112 million monthly active users in the region. Here’s a closer look at the allegations and their implications.
EU’s Crackdown On X Over Alleged DSA Violations
The European Commission’s decision to open formal proceedings against X follows a comprehensive assessment of potential breaches under the DSA. Notably, the focus areas include countering the dissemination of illegal content, combatting information manipulation, enhancing platform transparency, and investigating a suspected deceptive design of the user interface. If proven, these allegations would constitute infringements of various articles of the DSA.
Meanwhile, the proceedings specifically question X’s adherence to DSA obligations, such as effectively countering the spread of illegal content within the EU, the efficiency of measures against information manipulation, and the transparency of the platform.
Notably, this is the first formal enforcement action launched by the EU under the pioneering horizontal framework for online platforms’ responsibility, just three years after its proposal.
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Next Steps and Potential Ramifications
Following the formal initiation of proceedings, the European Commission will continue to gather evidence, possibly through additional information requests, interviews, or inspections. Notably, the DSA empowers the Commission to take further enforcement steps, including interim measures and non-compliance decisions.
Meanwhile, X has the opportunity to address the concerns and make commitments to remedy the identified issues.
However, the duration of the investigation will depend on various factors, including the complexity of the case and the extent of cooperation from X, the recent report showed. Meanwhile, the outcome remains uncertain, but these proceedings mark a milestone in the EU’s efforts to ensure compliance with the DSA, emphasizing the responsibility of Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) in maintaining a secure, transparent, and trustworthy digital space.
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