X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, has agreed to check its moderation inbox for reports of illegal hate and terror content within 24 hours, on average. This move comes after pressure from UK regulators, including Ofcom, the communications watchdog.
According to Ofcom, X will now review reports of hate and terror content within 24 hours, a significant improvement on its current response time. This development has been welcomed by experts, who highlight the importance of tackling online hate speech and terrorism.
The UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has been working closely with Ofcom to ensure that social media companies adhere to the UK's online safety laws. The ICO has the power to impose fines of up to 17.4 million GBP on companies that fail to comply with these laws.
The European Union's Artificial Intelligence Act, which is set to come into force in 2025, also places a strong emphasis on the regulation of social media companies. The Act requires companies to implement measures to detect and remove illegal content, including hate speech and terrorism.
Experts say that X's decision to review reports of hate and terror content within 24 hours is a positive step forward, but more needs to be done to tackle the issue of online hate speech. 'This is a welcome development, but we need to see more action from social media companies to tackle online hate speech,' said Dr. Emma Short, a leading expert on online safety.
The implications of X's decision are significant, not just for the company itself, but also for the UK economy and society as a whole. By improving its moderation processes, X can help to reduce the spread of online hate speech and terrorism, which can have a negative impact on individuals and communities.