A tech industry counter-terrorism organization is concerned about content posted by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Elon Musk’s X social media platform. The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), which includes major social media groups like Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, and YouTube, believes X’s membership on its board undermines the group’s credibility. The organization is worried about online trust and safety capabilities on X, citing concerns over the moderation of extremist content online. X Corp and the GIFCT have not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The Sunday Times reported that X, formerly known as Twitter, is now the easiest platform to find Hamas videos, according to the Community Security Trust (CST), a charity combating extremism and antisemitism. CST researchers were able to find propaganda videos from UK government proscribed terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad on X within just 10 minutes. The GIFCT’s independent advisory committee annual 2023 report expressed concern over online trust and safety capabilities for certain platforms, which was directed at X. The advisory body cited a perceived decrease in the priority of the issue, negatively impacting companies’ ability to moderate extremist content online.
According to The Sunday Times, Elon Musk has implemented changes on X, such as letting banned extremists back on the platform, allowing anyone to pay for a verification mark, and reducing the content moderation team. This is part of Musk’s strategy to turn X into a “free speech” platform. The GIFCT was established in 2017 under pressure from U.S. and European governments, with X being a founding member of the organization. However, the report stated that X is now failing to make its full financial contribution to the anti-terrorism organization.
This controversy highlights the ongoing struggle of social media platforms to moderate extremist content and ensure online trust and safety. The concerns raised by the GIFCT and other organizations regarding X’s membership and actions call into question the platform’s commitment to combating terrorism and extremism. It also sheds light on the challenges faced by tech companies in balancing free speech with the need to prevent harmful content from spreading online. As the debate over online content regulation continues, it is essential for platforms like X to prioritize the safety and well-being of their users.
In conclusion, the issue of online extremism is a complex and challenging one that requires collaboration and commitment from tech companies, governments, and civil society organizations. The controversy surrounding X and its ties to Hamas videos underscores the importance of effective content moderation and the need for platforms to uphold their responsibilities in combating terrorism online. Moving forward, it will be crucial for X and other social media platforms to address these concerns and take proactive steps to ensure the safety and security of their users.
