EU Launches Probe Into X

Author

Global Recap
October 13, 2023 • Read in: 8 minutes

Hi Global Recap readers,

Uncharacteristically for them, the EU has moved swiftly to launch a probe into X. Honestly, I am surprised.

Luckily for us, now we can dive into that story + your responses to yesterday’s poll together. Once again, there were a lot of insightful comments on the topic.

Thank you. 👍

🌐 Here’s what’s up around the world:

  • 🇮🇷 Iran Demands $6 Billion from US.

  • 🇮🇱 Israel Tells 1.1 Million Gazans to Flee or Face Death.

  • 🚨 Jewish Schools Shut Down Over Hamas Threat.

  • 🚀 North Korea Threatens to Nuke US Carrier.

  • 🇪🇺 EU Launches Probe Into X.

Let’s get into today’s news.

📈 Top News

🇮🇷 Iran Demands $6 Billion from US. Reports of a new US-Qatar agreement are making the round. It reveals that they are refreezing the $6 billion the US released to Iran in their prisoner swap deal in August. Iran is now demanding the US to hand over $6 billion.

Iran still denies any involvement in the Hamas attack, but celebrates it as a "success.”

🇮🇱 Israel Tells 1.1 Million Gazans to Flee or Face Death. Israel has ordered more than a million Palestinians in northern Gaza to evacuate their homes as it prepares to launch a ground invasion. Hamas has rejected the ultimatum, calling it a “psychological war.”

This is a nightmare scenario for the civilians trapped in Gaza, who have nowhere to go and no way to escape the Israeli bombardment.

🚨 Jewish Schools Shut Down Over Hamas Threat. A former Hamas leader called for supporters to “take to the streets” against Jews on Friday, sparking fear and panic among Jewish communities worldwide. Some Jewish schools and institutions decided to close for the day, while others increased their security measures. The FBI and Jewish security groups said they had no credible evidence of any specific attacks planned.

Many are calling today “a global day of Jihad.”

🚀 North Korea Threatens to Nuke US Carrier. Pyongyang is furious about the arrival of the USS Ronald Reagan in Busan, South Korea. The regime says it will launch the “most powerful and rapid first strike” against the US strategic assets in the region.

I hope they’re bluffing because this could get ugly fast.

✍️ In-Depth

European Union
EU Launches Probe Into X

🚀 Elon Musk Under Fire. The European Commission is not happy with the billionaire’s social media platform X.

⏪ Recap.

  • On Tuesday. The European Commissioner for the Internal Market Thierry Breton sent a public letter to Musk.

  • The letter. It states that X has failed to comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and has allowed the dissemination of terrorist and violent content, hate speech, and other negative effects on fundamental rights and public security.

  • X’s Response. X CEO Linda Yaccarino responded to the Commission’s letter and claimed that X had taken action on "tens of thousands of pieces of content.” She also defended X’s commitment to freedom of expression and democracy.

Clearly, this was not enough for them.

🔥 EU Launches Probe Into X. On Thursday, the Commission formally demanded X to provide information on how it deals with illegal and harmful content, especially in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

I suspect they already planned on launching a probe when they initially sent the letter to Musk.

⏳ What Happens Next. X has until October 18 to answer questions related to its crisis response protocol and until October 31 to answer other questions. The Commission will then assess the next steps and could impose fines or sanctions on X if it finds any violations of the DSA.

😱 The Reaction. The Commission’s announcement sparked a lot of reactions from users, some supporting the probe and others accusing the Commission of censorship and attacking freedom of speech.

Dive into Breton’s announcement post above and explore the comments section. It’s genuinely fascinating to see how many creative ways people can bag on a person. 🤣 

🌐 Opinion

Q. Is this (EU’s legal inquiry into X) excessive censorship?

🟠 🟠 🟠 🟠 ⚪️ 49%: Yes
🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 🔴 51%: No

Firstly, I want to address the comment below.

Honestly… I completely forgot. Looking back, it’s baffling because I find myself in the middle on this as well. 🤔

😡 YES

  • But remember, it’s not a free-for-all. Shouting “fire” in a packed cinema to cause chaos? That’s a no-go. Laws exist to shield the public from such dangers. Yet, some feel even this is too restrictive - a sentiment I can totally relate to.

  • For me, instant access to battlefield videos offers a raw, unfiltered view of the world. It empowers me to shape my own perspectives, free from others dictating how I should perceive and feel about a situation.

  • Even when I clash with others’ opinions, there’s a silver lining. Sometimes, they reinforce my beliefs; other times, they challenge them. Either way, it’s a net positive.

But there’s this…

❌ NO

  • I also agree that we don’t want kids stumbling upon violent videos on X.

  • However, there is this argument. Just as a parent has a duty to shield a child from real-world violence, they can do the same online. There is a beheading unfolding in front of your child in real life? You better cover up their eyes.

  • Well, parents can do the same online (X also has sensitive content settings). They do not necessarily need Big Brother to step in and do the parenting.

  • Additionally, someone mentioned that X should be liable for “publishing” harmful content on the internet. However, the US has a law often called Section 230 (the EU has some form of this too) which states:

“No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”

📝 CLOSING

Even the staunchest defenders of free speech agree: its true value lies in facilitating a free exchange of even the most “absurd” ideas, allowing its participants to work toward discovering truth.

But here’s the kicker - it demands:

  • humility,

  • patience,

  • empathy, and

  • more.

Traits that, let’s face it, seem to be in short supply in today’s world.

Sure, lacking these qualities doesn’t nullify anyone’s views. And it certainly doesn’t give a free pass to those advocating for a big government to decide what’s best for us. Everyone’s perspective counts, no matter what.

In short: it’s complicated.