The European Union has issued a warning to Elon Musk and major social media platforms for not complying with the newly enacted Digital Services Act (DSA) targeting fake news.

According to a report that analyzed disinformation levels in the EU, Twitter (now referred to as X) has been found to have the highest ratio of disinformation posts among major social media platforms. Even though Twitter withdrew from the code of practice, the new law obligates the platform to follow the regulations, or it may face a ban across the entire the EU.

While Facebook was identified as the second-worst offender, it, along with other tech giants such as Google, TikTok, and Microsoft, has pledged commitment to a code of practice devised by the EU to ensure alignment with the new legal framework.

Why does it matter?

Despite efforts by some platforms to combat fake accounts and false information, the EU is particularly concerned about the spread of Russian propaganda ahead of critical elections in Slovakia and Poland. The EU has strongly urged major online platforms to cooperate in tackling this issue and remain vigilant during elections.