Groundbreaking Revelation: X Abandons Crucial Tool Battling Political Misinformation, Unveiling Startling Research
X, the popular social media platform previously known as Twitter, has eliminated a function allowing users to report political misinformation, according to researchers This move, under the leadership of billionaire Elon Musk, adds to a series of safety measures that X has recently scaled back
X, the social media company that was previously called Twitter, has eliminated a feature which allowed users to report political misinformation on the platform, according to a research group. This change is the latest instance where X has removed safety measures since Elon Musk became the company's leader. The Australia-based digital policy think tank, Reset Australia, noticed this change first. The group of researchers sent an open letter to X, expressing concern about the potential negative effects of this decision, particularly as it coincides with an upcoming referendum on altering the Australian constitution to establish an Indigenous advisory group with direct government communication.
Reset Australia's letter states that there is currently no means to report electoral misinformation found on your platform. The fact that Australians would no longer have the ability to report significant misinformation right before a major referendum is deeply troubling. This rollback coincides with the intensification of political campaigning for the 2024 United States presidential election, with the spread of online misinformation remaining a pivotal concern leading up to the vote.
X did not respond to CNN's request for comment on Wednesday morning. However, X users can still report content on the platform for various violations, including "Hate," "Abuse & Harassment," and "Violent Speech." Musk has been a strong advocate for the platform's "Community Notes" feature, which enables users to provide additional context to posts.
Originally launched as a test for a select group of users in the US, South Korea, and Australia, the user-reporting feature was introduced by X (previously known as Twitter) in August 2021. Initially, it allowed users to report misleading political content. In January 2022, the company announced plans to expand the feature to more countries and users.
Musks rocky takeover of Twitter, meanwhile, was officially completed in October 2022.
Facebook, X, and Instagram icons are visible on a mobile phone screen in this illustrative photograph captured in Krakow, Poland on August 21, 2023. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
X is set to reintroduce political advertisements and strengthen its safety and election teams in preparation for the 2024 elections. Under Musk's leadership, other modifications have been implemented, such as the reinstatement of contentious accounts, notably those of former US President Donald Trump and rapper Kanye West. Musk has consistently expressed apprehensions regarding perceived censorship on the platform and advocates for prioritizing the promotion of what he believes constitutes "free speech."
X recently announced that it will once again permit political ads on its platform, marking the first time since 2019. Additionally, the company revealed its plans to hire for its safety and election teams in preparation for the upcoming 2024 US presidential vote.
