Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), has been criticized for allowing banned extremists back on the platform and for permitting users to pay for verification marks. According to a report by The Sunday Times, tech industry counter-terrorism organization, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), is alarmed by content posted on X by Palestinian militant group Hamas. The group is also concerned about X’s role on its board.
Members of GIFCT, which includes major social media companies like Facebook, Microsoft, Twitter, and YouTube (owned by Alphabet), believe X’s association undermines the group’s credibility. The concern grew as X reportedly became the easiest platform to find propaganda videos from terrorist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The Sunday Times also pointed out that researchers from the Community Security Trust (CST), an organization fighting extremism and antisemitism, could locate these videos within minutes. The GIFCT’s 2023 advisory committee report explicitly expressed worries about declining online trust and safety measures, with a particular focus on X.
Musk’s approach has included rehiring previously banned extremists, enabling paid verification, and significantly reducing the content moderation team. These actions are part of his broader strategy to position X as a platform for free speech. Founded in 2017 under government pressure, GIFCT was reportedly not receiving its full financial contribution from X, one of its founding members.
Neither X Corp nor GIFCT responded to requests for comments on the issue.
Original Story https://www.business-standard.com/world-news/anti-terror-tech-group-flags-hamas-content-on-musk-s-x-raises-concerns-124081200089_1.html
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