X, formerly known as Twitter, has been at the center of heated debates in recent months due to the spread of misinformation on the platform. Now, in a recent concerning development, X has reportedly removed the feature that allowed users to report misinformation related to elections.
This feature, initially introduced in the United States, Australia, and South Korea, provided a direct channel for users to report electoral misinformation. However, its removal outside the European Union has raised concerns among authorities, particularly in Australia, as the country prepares for its first referendum in nearly 25 years, scheduled for October 14. Although users can still report a post as hateful, abusive, or spam, the absence of a dedicated channel increases the risk significantly.
As a result, Reset. Tech Australia, the first to report on the matter, has penned an open letter to X, emphasizing the urgent need for effective reporting mechanisms, especially with the impending referendum that holds significant importance for Indigenous rights.
“We write to report our urgent concerns about the ability of users to report electoral misinformation on your platform. There now appears to be no channel to report electoral misinformation when discovered on your platform. It is extremely concerning that Australians would lose the ability to report serious misinformation weeks away from a major referendum,” reads the letter.
X’s recent struggles
This report aligns with the EU’s assessment, which highlighted X’s apparent challenges in handling the spread of false information, as it ranked first both in terms of the volume of disinformation on its platform and the engagement it generated with false content. Additionally, X’s exit from the EU’s Code of Practice on Disinformation has raised concerns, especially since the platform was promoting Russian propaganda during the Ukrainian conflict.
“There are obligations under the hard law. So my message for Twitter/X is you have to comply. We will be watching what you do,” said European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova.