John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 12.01.2022 03:Dec AM EST

EU Banning Twitter a Possibility Due to Content Moderation Issues

Twitter's lack of content moderation is chasing away more than just advertisers and companies.

The EU recently warned The Big Twit himself, Elon Musk, to get going with his content moderation plans on Twitter or risk having its app banned in the region.

Musk initially promised to form a content moderation council before reinstating the accounts of banned people on the platform. However, said council has yet to materialize even after a month under Musk's leadership.

EU's Threat To Elon Musk's Twitter

EU Commissioner Thierry Breton said that Twitter could soon be in violation of the Union's Digital Services Act (ACT), a recently enacted law that forces major internet platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and similar sites to do more to address misinformation, disinformation, and other illegal content on their platforms, per Algorithm Watch.

According to Breton's statement, violating the DSA will result in fines of up to 6% of a website's global turnover or a temporary suspension of its service if the site's refusal to comply endangers people's life and safety, per The Guardian.

In Twitter's case, it would have to pay $500 million for violating the EU's DSA if its content moderation issues were left unsolved. A suspension is unlikely but considered by the EU as a "last resort."

Breton gave this statement and warning to Musk during a video meeting on Nov. 30, according to a Financial Times report citing people with knowledge of the conversation.

Breton also gave Musk a checklist of rules against online hate speech, disinformation, and misinformation his Twitter 2.0 must adhere to for it to remain in the EU.

According to Reuters, Breton already urged Musk to comply with the EU's DSA in the past, with the European Commission's justice chief Didier Reynders voicing similar sentiments.

Fortunately, Breton stated that Musk intends to get his Twitter 2.0 ready for the DSA and that he is pleased that Musk considers the DSA a sensible approach on a worldwide basis after reading the DSA's requirements carefully.

However, he made it clear to Musk that he still has much to work on regarding Twitter's content moderation, as he will have to enact "transparent user policies, reinforce content moderation, and protect freedom of speech."

Musk's efforts must include limiting targeted advertising and banning profiling of child users for advertising purposes.

Twitter 2.0's Content Moderation Woes

Breton's concern about Twitter's content moderation is well-founded. The Big Twit has yet to convene the content moderation council he promised to form when we took over Twitter in late October. The current status of the platform's content moderation team also did not help Musk's efforts. Most if not all team members have either resigned or have been fired during Musk's many layoffs.

As of press time, the lack of content moderation has led to Twitter removing its COVID-19 misinformation policy under Musk's leadership.

Yoel Roth, Twitter's former head of trust and safety, now says that the platform is less safe under Musk due to his laissez-faire approach to content moderation, along with his lack of a transparent process of making and enforcing Twitter's policies.