X failed to remove the vast majority of posts that were flagged to the platform for containing “extreme hate speech,” according to a report published Wednesday by the Center for Countering Digital Hate.
Why it matters: While third-party researchers have repeatedly claimed that X, formerly known as Twitter, has become more toxic since Elon Musk’s takeover, the company has persistently denied the accusations.
Driving the news: Each of the 300 posts examined by the nonprofit represented a “clear violation of X’s policies on hate speech,” the report stated.
The big picture: Under Elon Musk, X has loosened some restrictions on hate speech. The company this year adopted a “Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Reach” enforcement policy, in which some content is made “less discoverable” on the platform.
Worth noting: X’s hateful conduct policy prohibits users from targeting an individual or a group of people with hateful references and imagery, incitement, slurs and tropes and dehumanizing comments.
Zoom out: Last week Musk accused the Anti-Defamation League — a prominent nonprofit focused on fighting antisemitism and hate speech — of causing X’s recent slump in advertising revenue. He threatened to file a defamation suit against the group.
Our thought bubble, from Axios’ Sara Fischer: The issue points to where third-party research groups and X’s perspectives on hate speech could diverge. What Musk and X think is not considered removable speech, researchers may disagree.
