Social Media Platform X Removes Hundreds of Hamas-Affiliated Accounts
CEO of X (formerly Twitter), Linda Yaccarino, revealed that the social media platform has recently eliminated numerous accounts associated with Hamas, the Palestinian terror group. Additionally, X has taken action to delete thousands of posts related to Hamas since the group’s most recent attack on Israel.
The removal of Hamas-related accounts on X follows demands from European Union Commissioner Theirry Breton to address disinformation surrounding the Hamas-Israel conflict on the platform. In a letter to Elon Musk, Breton claims that X is “being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation” and may be in violation of the EU’s Digital Services Act that was recently implemented. This act mandates social media platforms address illegal content, including terrorist material.
Yaccarino emphasized that X is dedicated to serving the public conversation, particularly during times of conflict, and is committed to removing illegal content from the platform, specifically content from terrorist organizations and violent extremist groups.
“X is committed to serving the public conversation, especially in critical moments like this and understands the importance of addressing any illegal content that may be disseminated through the platform,” Yaccarino said in a response statement to Breton, “There is no place on X for terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups and we continue to remove such accounts in real time, including proactive efforts.”
The ongoing military conflict between Hamas and Israel has led to an increased presence on X for discussions, debates, and the sharing of images and footage from the war. However, much of this viral content on the site has been propaganda, aimed at favoring one side over the other.
A recent NBC report found that at least 67 accounts on X were part of a propaganda network designed to coordinate a false narrative of the war. Community Notes, the fact-checking feature of X, recently stated that it has already included over 500 unique notes relating to the attacks and events unfolding between Israel and Hamas.
Even government officials have been criticized for sharing misleading content on X. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, for example, sparked controversy after she reposted a photo of killed children with a caption that read “child genocide in Palestine.” Later, it was revealed that the image was not of Palestinian children and instead depicted children killed in 2013 by Syrian chemical weapons.
