Study Finds X Leads Major Social Networks in Disinformation Content

X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has the highest proportion of disinformation among six major social networks, according to a new European Commission study. The research, which examined over 6,000 unique social media posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, X, and YouTube, raises fresh concerns about content moderation on the Elon Musk-owned platform.

The comprehensive analysis focused on three European countries considered particularly vulnerable to disinformation campaigns: Spain, Poland, and Slovakia. These nations were selected due to recent elections or their proximity to the war in Ukraine, factors that make them prime targets for misleading content.

“My message for X is: you have to comply with the hard law. We’ll be watching what you’re doing,” warned Vera Jourova, the EU’s Values and Transparency Commissioner, in response to the findings.

The study, conducted by disinformation monitoring startup TrustLab, measured what researchers called the “ratio of discoverability” of disinformation – essentially the proportion of sensitive content that contains false or misleading information. X ranked highest in this metric, while YouTube demonstrated the lowest ratio among the platforms examined.

This development is particularly notable given X’s history with European regulatory frameworks. The platform, then called Twitter, was among many social networks that voluntarily joined the EU’s code of practice on disinformation in 2018. However, under Musk’s leadership, the company withdrew from this voluntary agreement.

Despite withdrawing from the voluntary code, X remains subject to the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which establishes regulatory standards for large technology platforms. The EU plans to transform the voluntary code into a mandatory code of conduct under the DSA.

“Mr. Musk knows that he is not off the hook by leaving the code of practice, because now we have the Digital Services Act fully enforced,” Jourova emphasized. The stakes are significant, as non-compliance with the DSA could result in fines of up to six percent of a company’s global turnover.

The timing of this study coincides with growing concerns about state-sponsored disinformation campaigns in Europe. In September, the EU accused social media companies of failing to effectively counter “large-scale” Russian disinformation operations following the invasion of Ukraine, noting that the “reach and influence of Kremlin-backed accounts” had actually expanded in 2023.

“The Russian state has engaged in the war of ideas to pollute our information space with half-truth and lies to create a false image that democracy is no better than autocracy,” Jourova stated. She described Russia’s efforts as “a multi-million euro weapon of mass manipulation” targeting European citizens, emphasizing that major social media platforms must address these risks.

The threat posed by disinformation is considered especially serious in the current geopolitical context, with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and upcoming European elections creating an environment where misleading content can have significant consequences.

Adding to these concerns, Commissioner Jourova highlighted that work is underway to address AI-generated disinformation ahead of European elections. She mentioned plans to meet with representatives from OpenAI to discuss these issues, signaling that regulators are increasingly focused on both human-created and AI-generated misleading content.

The BBC has approached X for comment on the study’s findings, but as of publication time, the company has not responded to the allegations regarding disinformation on its platform.