Espreso. Global

EU calls Musk's social network "X" largest source of Russian disinformation

26 September, 2023 Tuesday
16:10

After analyzing reports on how tech companies deal with disinformation, the European Union has recognized billionaire Elon Musk's social network X (formerly Twitter) as the largest means of spreading Russian lies and propaganda

client/title.list_title

Bloomberg reports about this.

Věra Jourová, Vice President of the European Commission, said that the platforms need to act ahead of the national and European elections to be held next year.

"This is a multi-million euro weapon of mass manipulation aimed both internally at the Russians as well as Europeans and the rest of the world. The very large platforms must address this risk. Especially that we have to expect that the Kremlin and others will be active before our European elections," she said.

Most major tech companies, including Facebook Meta Platforms, Google, and TikTok, have agreed to work with the EU on a voluntary code of conduct that aims to set industry standards for fact-checking and other measures. The bloc has also implemented a pilot project to assess the extent of the problem.

"X, former Twitter, who is not under the code any more, is the platform with the largest ratio of mis- or disinformation posts. The pilot also showed that disinformation actors were found to have significantly more followers than their non-disinformation counterparts and tend to have joined the platform more recently than non-disinformation users," Jourová said.

 

The European Commission vice president called on Twitter to "comply with hard law" as the social network is recognized as a major online platform.

Jourová also said that the impact of Russian disinformation is particularly acute in Slovakia, where elections are being held on Saturday.

"Slovakia has been chosen as the country where there is fertile ground for success of the Russian pro-Kremlin, pro-war narratives. The election this week will be a test case because the approach to Russian war in Ukraine is a divisive line," she said, adding that Facebook and Google have taken some steps to strengthen their efforts to combat fake news following pressure from the EU.

Elon Musk's shutdown of Starlink in Crimea

Writer Walter Isaacson wrote about the Starlink shutdown in his biography of Elon Musk. According to him, the businessman was afraid that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would use the technology to strike at the Russian Black Sea Fleet.

Musk, in turn, said that he did not disconnect Starlink in Crimea, but rejected Ukraine's request to reconnect it.

"SpaceX did not deactivate anything. There was an emergency request from government authorities to activate Starlink all the way to Sevastopol. The obvious intent being to sink most of the Russian fleet at anchor. If I had agreed to their request, then SpaceX would be explicitly complicit in a major act of war and conflict escalation," the businessman explained.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, called Musk's actions a mixture of ignorance and a big ego, which resulted in numerous human casualties.

Later, Musk said that he did not consider himself a traitor for shutting down Starlink satellite internet in the temporarily occupied Crimea.

"I am a citizen of the United States and have only that passport. No matter what happens, I will fight for and die in America. The United States Congress did not declare war on Russia. If anyone is treasonous, it is those who call me such," the billionaire said.

Viktor Shlinchak, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of World Policy, believes that Elon Musk plans to join the political establishment.

The American billionaire Elon Musk deactivated Starlink not only in Crimea but also in Donbas, reportedly with the intention of preventing the Ukrainian Armed Forces from using the technology during the counteroffensive. This is stated in Musk's biography, written by writer Walter Isaacson.

It is worth noting that this is not the first scandal involving Musk. Last year, his SpaceX company informed the Pentagon that it refused to finance Starlink satellite communications services in Ukraine. Eventually, the US took over the costs.


 
Tags:
Read also:
  • News
2025, Wednesday
19 February
14:15
Exclusive
New Ukraine-EU defense alliance signals revival of Europe's defense industry — military expert
13:55
Updated
U.S. envoy Keith Kellogg arrives in Kyiv for talks
13:54
Ukraine’s Air Force confirms precision strike on Russian troop dislocation in Zaporizhzhia region
13:32
Elections in Ukraine immediately after ceasefire are unrealistic – Ukrainian MP
13:08
EU approves 16th sanctions package against Russia – Journalist Jozwiak
12:56
Affiliate Material
I wasn't afraid of causing pain — it helped the wounded: combat medic Lidiia Zabolotska's story
12:35
Russia in Riyadh lies about not targeting Ukraine’s energy sector as it strikes Odesa – Zelenskyy
12:13
OPINION
Ukraine expects unity from Europeans, Europeans expect unity from Ukraine
11:57
Zelenskyy delays Saudi Arabia visit to avoid legitimizing U.S.-Russia talks
11:36
Review
Kurakhove pocket: Ukrainian Armed Forces hold ground under extreme conditions. Serhiy Zgurets' column
11:10
UK may supply Ukraine with Typhoon fighter jets if ceasefire is reached
10:36
Russia remains unwilling to negotiate on Ukraine following talks in Saudi Arabia — ISW
10:15
Russian drone attack causes power, water, and heating outages in Odesa, leaves 4 injured
09:54
Russia’s Syzran oil refinery on fire after drone strike
09:30
Russia loses 1,300 soldiers, 19 tanks, 72 artillery systems in one day of war in Ukraine
2025, Tuesday
18 February
21:30
EU plans to provide Ukraine with €6 billion military aid package amid US-Russia talks
21:15
Exclusive
Massive Russian force gathers near Ukraine's Lyman as attacks intensify
21:01
Exclusive
"Signal to world and primarily Europe": MP Tsymbaliuk on US-Russia negotiations
20:42
Ukraine will not legally recognize Russian-occupied territories, says Zelenskyy
20:26
Turkey is ideal for negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and US, says Erdogan
20:11
Updated
Fox News reports on proposed three-stage peace plan by Russia and US. Lavrov claims he hasn't seen it
19:56
Exclusive
Ukraine prepares for elections, says former SBU officer
19:40
OPINION
How 50% became stumbling block in Ukraine-US relations
19:25
UK Defence Secretary declares world is in "new era of threat"
19:09
How Ukrainian simulators help troops master new weapons
18:50
Exclusive
EU plans to extend sanctions against Russia - Espreso correspondent from Brussels
18:31
US-Ukraine mineral deal terms worse than Germany's post-war reparations – The Telegraph
18:10
Ukraine won't accept Russia's ultimatums: Zelenskyy on US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia
17:52
Zelenskyy, First Lady inaugurate Ukraine's new Embassy building in Ankara
17:30
Europe ready to ramp up defense efforts for Ukraine amid global pressure — Ursula von der Leyen
17:11
Russia says European peacekeepers in Ukraine would be viewed as “escalatory step”
16:54
Exclusive
Trump appears to be outmaneuvering both Beijing and Moscow, says political analyst
16:36
Exclusive
EU aims to compete with U.S. for global influence – Espreso correspondent from Brussels
16:15
Ukraine’s strike on rare Russian S-350 puts pressure on Moscow’s defenses
15:55
Ukraine Russia war live map, February 5-12
Russia's year-long push for Pokrovsk shows no success: military observer explains why
15:27
Exclusive
Europe faces a new reality – Ukrainian MP Knyazhytskyi from Paris
15:12
Lithuania calls for security guarantees before considering troop deployment to Ukraine
15:06
Updated
U.S. and Russia hold over 4-hour talks in Saudi Arabia
14:55
Ukraine allocates over $35 million to maintain Chornobyl shelter
14:31
Russia enhances accuracy of North Korean KN-23 missiles — Ukraine's spy chief
More news