A Twitter program that helped researchers study state-backed information campaigns has stalled and now throws into question the company's strategy to comply with the EU’s new internet regulations, according to former employees and experts
The European Union's new Digital Services Act , one of the world's strictest regulations on internet platforms, has sent tech companies scrambling to meet its requirements on having measures in place against illegal content and explaining the steps they take on content moderation, before the law comes into full effect in early 2024.
Failure to comply with the DSA once it comes into effect could lead to fines of up to 6% of global revenue or even a ban from operating in the EU, according to the European Commission website.In an email, Twitter's head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin, said: "We intend to fully comply with the DSA, have many employees working on DSA compliance internally and have communicated our intent to comply to Breton and his team.
"I just don't see how the absolutely skeletal staff ... will be able to readily comply ," said Rebekah Tromble, director of the Institute for Data, Democracy and Politics at George Washington University.The research consortium was formed in response to backlash against Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. According to the, its aim is "to increase transparency around Twitter’s content moderation policies and enforcement decisions.
In September, Twitter opened an application process to expand the consortium and had accepted about 50 researchers by the time of Musk's acquisition on Oct. 27, two of the former employees said. Two of those who are members of the consortium said Twitter has not sent a memo to close the program formally and previously-released data remain available to them, but they had not received data from it in at least two months.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Reuters poll: Global economy to grow 2.1% in 2023; 2.8% in 2024In a poll conducted by Reuters, states that the global economy will grow by 2.1% in 2023; 2.8% in 2024 vs 2.3% and 3.0%, respectively, in an October p
Read more »
Global 2023 economic view downgraded, at odds with market optimism: Reuters pollGlobal economic growth is forecast to barely clear 2% this year, according to a Reuters poll of economists who said the greater risk was a further downgrade to their view, at odds with widespread optimism in markets since the start of the year.
Read more »
Ukraine war underscores need to back new green tech - Boris Johnson | Reuters VideoDescription: In an exclusive conversation with Reuters IMPACT and Arctic Basecamp, Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urges the world to double down on new green technologies such as wind and nuclear, saying the results will eventually speak for themselves. “You have to overcome people's scepticism and show them that green agenda is going to bring their bills down,” he says.
Read more »