In a legal confrontation, Elon Musk’s social platform, X, contested a California law compelling biannual reports on content moderation strategies. Despite X’s assertions, the district court ruled that the law didn’t contravene the US Constitution.
Mandated Reporting Requirements
The law mandates that social networks meeting specific revenue criteria issue comprehensive biannual reports detailing their content moderation approaches and the quantity of contentious content removed or amended. Judge William Shubb acknowledged the regulatory burden but underscored alignment with First Amendment principles safeguarding free speech and press rights.
European Regulatory Scrutiny
Simultaneously, X faces legislative scrutiny in Europe, especially regarding conflicting information surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict. The initiation of an investigation under the European Digital Services Act (DSA) marks a significant milestone—a first instance of an information platform under such scrutiny, notes NIX Solutions.
Compliance Efforts and Cooperation
X has expressed willingness to comply with the DSA mandates and actively collaborates with the ongoing investigation. This stance emphasizes the platform’s responsiveness to evolving regulatory landscapes and its commitment to transparently inform users about terms of service.