In a letter to Thierry Breton, X CEO Linda Yaccarino says X has removed hundreds of Hamas-linked accounts, labeled tens of thousands of posts, and more

The X social media platform has removed hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts and taken action to remove or label tens of thousands …

Reuters 2023-10-13

Context & Ripple Effects

X’s actions came after Thierry Breton warned X of potential DSA penalties over illegal content and disinformation related to the Israel-Hamas war. The letter gives the company an initial public accounting of enforcement steps directed at Hamas-linked activity and related posts.

The episode placed X alongside other large platforms facing pressure to demonstrate crisis-response capacity: Meta publicly described its own war-content operations center shortly afterward. The salient issue is not merely takedowns, but whether platforms can substantiate that their systems are reducing harmful reach.

First-order effects

X has removed Hamas-linked accounts and applied labels or removals to tens of thousands of posts, immediately limiting access to affected accounts and altering how users encounter related content.
Yaccarino’s letter gives X a record of enforcement actions for Breton and other regulators assessing its handling of war-related content.

Second-order effects

Regulatory scrutiny shifts from broad demands for action toward evidence: X must be able to document enforcement decisions, labels, and the treatment of flagged content under the DSA.
Peer platforms face stronger incentives to disclose comparable crisis-response measures, while X’s later removal of paid checkmarks from accounts allegedly tied to sanctioned entities shows that account-status systems can become part of the enforcement surface.

Third-order effects

If this pattern persists, large platforms will be judged increasingly on auditable moderation operations during geopolitical crises, not solely on their published rules.
The later release of X’s first transparency report under Musk points to a longer contest over what reporting is sufficient to demonstrate platform accountability; comparable metrics may become more consequential, though their interpretation will remain contested.

The trend: This is one data point in the shift from voluntary content-moderation assurances toward regulator-tested, evidence-based platform governance during fast-moving crises.

Discussion

@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo on threads
Elon is about to find out that “free speech” actually costs a lot, in fines, in the EU.
@safety @safety on x
In the past couple of days, we've seen an increase in daily active users on @X in the conflict area, plus there have been more than 50 million posts globally focusing on the weekend's terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas. As the events continue to unfold rapidly, a cross-company l…
@lindayax Linda Yaccarino on x
Everyday we're reminded of our global responsibility to protect the public conversation by ensuring everyone has access to real-time information and safeguarding the platform for all our users. In response to the recent terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas, we've redistributed...
@thierrybreton Thierry Breton on x
Following the terrorist attacks by Hamas against 🇮🇱, we have indications of X/Twitter being used to disseminate illegal content & disinformation in the EU. Urgent letter to @elonmusk on #DSA obligations ⤵️ [image]
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@ThierryBreton Our policy is that everything is open source and transparent, an approach that I know the EU supports. Please list the violations you allude to on 𝕏, so that that the public can see them. Merci beaucoup.
@globalaffairs @globalaffairs on x
Today @lindayaX responded to @ThierryBreton's letter detailing our work in response to the terrorist attack on Israel. [image]
@thierrybreton Thierry Breton on x
@elonmusk Vu, merci. You are well aware of your users' — and authorities'— reports on fake content and glorification of violence. Up to you to demonstrate that you walk the talk. My team remains at your disposal to ensure DSA compliance, which the EU will continue to enforce rigo…
@thierrybreton Thierry Breton on x
We have received the reply by @X to our letter raising concerns about the spread of illegal content and disinformation related to the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. The #DSA enforcement team will analyse the reply and decide on next steps.
@marinamedvin @marinamedvin on x
X has spent the past 12 hours systemically removing all proof of Palestinian terrorist atrocities committed on children, women, the elderly, and the men. A fraction of the proof remains. And not just individual posts — but full accounts gone. Why is X doing this. The victims...
@prestonjbyrne Preston Byrne on x
“Why is X doing this?” Probably because the European Commission is ordering them to, as @ThierryBreton made clear in his post on Monday. People seeing Hamas atrocities threatens social order in Europe so it must be suppressed.
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@ThierryBreton We take our actions in the open. No back room deals. Please post your concerns explicitly on this platform.
@isabelle_szcz Isabelle Szczepanski on x
A few remarks : - @ThierryBreton wrongly sent his letter to @elonmusk (the old boys club mentality ?). @lindayaX replies, as she should have been the rightful recipient as the company's CEO. Amen to that. - Breton says that X must remove disinformation, Linda Yacarino replies in.…
@erinkwoo Erin Woo on x
Linda Yaccarino responded to Thierry Breton's letter here: (Elon Musk responded yesterday via this platform, asking for more information and demanding that Breton post alleged violations publicly on X.)
@elonmusk Elon Musk on x
@MatchasmMatt @ThierryBreton I still don't know what they're talking about! Maybe it's in the mail or something.
@pinboard @pinboard on x
This is a misunderstanding of how to use Twitter effectively. You can still get feeds of arbitrarily high quality on any topic, including breaking news, but it requires using the lists feature. That has never been adequately promoted or supported, but it's at everyone's disposal
@pinboard @pinboard on x
A lot of people who spent the Trump years cheerleading for critical thinking, fact-checking and fighting disinformation are now leaving in a huff now that this site is not ideologically homogeneous instead of putting their principles into action. Sad!
@anneapplebaum Anne Applebaum on x
“X users were presented with video game footage passed off as footage of a Hamas attack, images of fireworks in Algeria presented as Israeli strikes on Hamas & old video from the Syrian civil war repurposed to look like it was taken this weekend” https://www.wired.com/...
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Things just got (appropriately) real for Elon in his posture on the new DSA. “I urge you to ensure a prompt, accurate and complete response to this request within the next 24 hours. We will include your answer in our assessment file on your compliance with the DSA.”
@guyverhofstadt Guy Verhofstadt on x
A long overdue first step by @ThierryBreton Under Musk, X has become a swamp of disinformation..including from the owner of the platform. EU laws must apply & if not enough, X should be regulated until it cleans up its act!
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Why didn't he address the letter to the ceo? Just curious. That would be normal protocol.
@zsk Zoe Kleinman on x
I have seen a lot of disinfo on X - my fab colleague @Shayan86 is doing a good job of highlighting the fakes he has been able to verify but ultimately it's X's job, not his
r/worldnews r on reddit
EU opens investigation into X over alleged disinformation
r/technology r on reddit
X removes hundreds of Hamas-affiliated accounts since attack, CEO says

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