The European Commission opens an investigation targeting social network X for the alleged dissemination of “false information”

After the warning letter, the investigation. The European Commission announced, Thursday October 12, the opening of an investigation targeting the social network “false information”, “violent and terrorist content” Or “hate speech”, after the attack carried out by the Hamas terrorist group against Israel. In its press release, the Brussels executive explains that it has sent a formal request for information to the platform of billionaire Elon Musk.

The request for information, which “follows indications received concerning the alleged dissemination of illicit content”takes the form of a document of around forty pages with precise questions. It constitutes the first step in a procedure which can lead to heavy financial sanctions in the event of proven and prolonged infringements of the regulations. In extreme cases, fines can reach 6% of the group’s global turnover.

This is the first procedure launched under the new European Digital Services (DSA) legislation. Two days ago, it was the European Digital Commissioner Thierry Breton who sent a first warning letter to X. The latter, who is at the origin of the new legislation, thus continues the tightening started at the start of the week and which saw him successively warn X, Meta and again TikTok, in letters addressed to their leaders. It is “protect our citizens and our democracies by providing a safe environment for users and reliable sources of information, including in times of crisis”the person told AFP.