Elon Musk’s X routinely fails to takedown hate speech, fake news, finds new study

A recent investigation by the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) has raised concerns about X’s, formerly Twitter, commitment to combating hate speech on its platforms, particularly in the context of the ongoing Middle East conflict.

The non-profit organization, dedicated to countering online misinformation and hate speech, analyzed 200 reported instances of hate speech on X related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. The findings indicate that despite X’s stated commitment to combat content “motivated by hatred, prejudice or intolerance,” 96 per cent of the reported posts remained online a week after being flagged.

The hate speech incidents were identified as occurring in the aftermath of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The content included posts that incited violence against Muslims, Palestinians, and Jewish people, promoted antisemitic conspiracy theories, and described Palestinians in Gaza in dehumanizing terms.

The CCDH researchers stressed that the 200 incidents were not meant to be a representative sample but rather a test of X’s moderation systems. They identified the accounts through the analysis of followings, likes, and posts of known hateful accounts.

Of the 101 accounts involved, 43 were verified accounts, benefiting from increased post visibility. The posts that remained online garnered a total of 24,043,693 views. Only one account was suspended, and two were ‘locked,’ preventing them from posting, reposting, or liking content.

Imran Ahmed, the CEO and founder of CCDH, expressed concern over the platform’s handling of hate speech. He stated, “X has sought to reassure advertisers and the public that they have a handle on hate speech – but our research indicates that these are nothing but empty words.”

This report follows a previous study published in September by CCDH, which analyzed a broader range of hate speech instances on X. In that study, 86 per cent of 300 reported cases remained online after a week.

X has faced increased scrutiny over its moderation standards since Elon Musk’s controversial takeover last year. The company’s move to lay off a majority of its workforce in November further intensified criticisms.

In response to the findings, Elon Musk labeled CCDH as “truly evil” in a post earlier this year, accusing them of spreading disinformation and promoting censorship. A lawyer for Musk later sent a letter to CCDH, claiming that their statements were baseless and intended to harm X’s digital advertising business.

CCDH responded by dismissing the threat as ridiculous, asserting that it was an attempt to intimidate advocates against incitement, hate speech, and harmful online content. The ongoing debate raises questions about the efficacy of X’s moderation efforts amid a backdrop of rising tensions in the Middle East.

(With input from agencies)