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New X report shows platform more compliant with ‘censorship’ under Musk

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X, the social media platform formerly called Twitter, has issued its first transparency report since Elon Musk took control of the company. The report details a significant increase in both account suspensions and content moderation actions, reflecting the company’s efforts to enforce its rules more strictly.

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During the first half of this year, X suspended nearly 5.3 million accounts, more than triple the 1.6 million accounts suspended in the same period in 2022. The company also reported that over 10.6 million posts were either removed or labeled for violating platform rules, with roughly 5 million falling under its “hateful conduct” category.

X , the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, is making its own preparations ahead of the election cycle.
Reuters

Posts involving violent content accounted for 2.2 million of the removals or labels, while those related to abuse and harassment reached 2.6 million. However, the company did not specify how many posts were taken down compared to those that were only flagged.

In a previous blog post from April 2023, X noted that it had required users to take down 6.5 million pieces of content in the first half of 2022, marking a 29% rise from the latter part of 2021.

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Musk’s leadership has faced criticism, with some accusing him of turning the platform into a more chaotic and toxic space. He has sparked controversy by sharing conspiracy theories and clashing with political figures and world leaders. Additionally, X remains banned in Brazil after a conflict between Musk and a Brazilian Supreme Court judge over free speech, misinformation and far-right accounts.

X said it relies on a combination of machine learning and human moderators to enforce its rules. Automated systems are tasked with flagging or taking action on problematic content, which is then reviewed by human moderators if needed. The company added that posts violating its policies made up less than 1% of the total content on the platform.

When Musk sought to acquire Twitter in 2022, he expressed a desire to transform it into a “platform for free speech.” Since completing the purchase in October 2022, Musk has overseen substantial changes, including firing much of the staff. These changes have contributed to the steady departure of many celebrities, public figures, organizations and users from the platform.

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Karah Rucker

IN A SIGNIFICANT UPDATE, SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM X HAS RELEASED ITS FIRST TRANSPARENCY REPORT SINCE ELON MUSK’S TAKEOVER. 

THE REPORT REVEALS THE COMPANY’S CONTENT MODERATION PRACTICES AND HIGHLIGHTS A DRAMATIC INCREASE IN ACCOUNT AND POST REMOVALS.

IN THE FIRST HALF OF THIS YEAR, X, FORMERLY KNOWN AS TWITTER, SUSPENDED NEARLY 5-POINT-3 MILLION ACCOUNTS. THIS FIGURE MARKS A STARK CONTRAST TO THE 1-POINT-6 MILLION ACCOUNTS SUSPENDED DURING THE SAME PERIOD IN 2022. 

THE REPORT SHOWS THAT X REMOVED OR LABELED OVER 10 MILLION POSTS FOR VIOLATING ITS PLATFORM RULES. AMONG THESE, APPROXIMATELY 5 MILLION FELL UNDER THE COMPANY’S “HATEFUL CONDUCT” POLICY. 

ADDITIONALLY, THE REPORT NOTES THAT POSTS CONTAINING VIOLENT CONTENT REACHED 2-POINT-2 MILLION, WHILE THOSE CATEGORIZED AS ABUSE AND HARASSMENT TOTALED 2-POINT-6 MILLION. X DID NOT SPECIFY HOW MANY POSTS WERE REMOVED VERSUS THOSE SIMPLY LABELED. 

IN A PREVIOUS BLOG POST FROM APRIL 2023, X INDICATED THAT IT REQUIRED USERS TO REMOVE OVER 6-MILLION PIECES OF CONTENT IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2022, REFLECTING A 29-PERCENT INCREASE FROM THE LATTER HALF OF 2021.

WHEN MUSK PURSUED THE ACQUISITION OF TWITTER IN 2022, HE STATED HIS INTENTION TO TRANSFORM IT INTO A PLATFORM FOR FREE SPEECH. SINCE TAKING CONTROL IN OCTOBER OF THAT YEAR MUSK HAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED THE WORKFORCE, AND IMPLEMENTED CHANGES CONTRIBUTING TO A NOTABLE EXODUS OF CELEBRITIES, PUBLIC FIGURES, ORGANIZATIONS AND EVERYDAY USERS.

AND WHILE VOCALIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF FREE SPEECH… PREVIOUS REPORTS SHOW THE COMPANY ACTUALLY COMPLIES WITH GOVERNMENT TAKEDOWN REQUESTS MORE THAN UNDER PREVIOUS OWNERSHIP.

TO UPHOLD ITS CONTENT RULES, X EMPLOYS A COMBINATION OF MACHINE LEARNING AND HUMAN MODERATION. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, POSTS THAT VIOLATE COMPANY POLICY MAKE UP LESS THAN 1-PERCENT OF ALL CONTENT ON THE SITE.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS… I’M KARAH RUCKER.