X's Content Crackdown: 5.3M Accounts Suspended, Hate Speech Tops Violations
X Releases First Transparency Report Under Musk Ownership, Revealing Increased Content Moderation
Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has published its first transparency report since being acquired by Elon Musk. The report sheds light on the company’s content moderation practices during the first half of 2023, revealing a significant increase in account suspensions and content removals.
According to the report, X suspended nearly 5.3 million accounts between January and June 2023, a substantial rise from the 1.6 million accounts suspended during the same period in 2022. Additionally, more than 10.6 million posts were either removed or labeled for violating platform rules.
The most common category for content moderation was “hateful conduct,” with approximately 5 million posts falling under this policy. Other major categories included “violent content” (2.2 million) and “abuse and harassment” (2.6 million). However, the report does not specify the distinction between posts that were removed and those that were labeled.
This increase in content moderation comes amid criticism that Musk’s ownership has led to a more chaotic and toxic environment on the platform. Musk, who acquired Twitter in October 2022 with the stated intention of realizing its potential as a “platform for free speech,” has himself been involved in controversies, including posting conspiracy theories and engaging in public feuds with world leaders and politicians.
X employs a combination of machine learning and human review to enforce its rules. Automated systems either take action directly or flag content for human moderators to review. Despite the high numbers of removals and suspensions, X maintains that posts violating its policies account for less than 1% of all content on the site.
The platform’s moderation practices have faced scrutiny in various countries. Currently, X is banned in Brazil due to a dispute between Musk and a Brazilian Supreme Court judge over issues related to free speech, far-right accounts, and misinformation.
Since Musk’s takeover, X has undergone significant changes, including staff reductions and policy alterations. These changes have reportedly led to an exodus of celebrities, public figures, organizations, and ordinary users from the platform.
As X continues to navigate the complex landscape of content moderation and free speech, this transparency report offers insight into the platform’s efforts to balance these often-competing priorities in the Musk era.
