Elon Musk’s X Releases First Transparency Report Since Renaming

Elon Musk’s X has released its first transparency report since renaming from Twitter, shedding light on the platform’s enforcement actions and rule violations in the first half of this year.

With Musk’s more relaxed approach to moderation, many users are curious to see how it has impacted the user experience. Surprisingly, the total actions are quite similar to the previous data available from Twitter.

The report highlights that hateful content, abuse, harassment, and violent content are still the main reasons for removal on X. In the first half of 2024, X suspended 5.2 million accounts and removed 10.7 million posts due to rule violations.

Comparatively, X has taken more stringent actions on violations than Twitter in its last published transparency report, showing a significant shift in its moderation policies.

Despite Musk’s claims of a more open and “free speech” network, X has been actively removing more content, suspending more users, and responding to legal requests. The shift is reflective of a broader reliance on automation and a more binary view of violation enforcement.

X’s updated moderation strategy focuses more on reach restrictions than account suspensions and content removals, aligning with Musk’s vision of free speech. Advertisers may have concerns, but the shift highlights a different approach compared to Twitter’s previous management.

Overall, X’s transparency report reveals a complex moderation strategy that highlights the challenges of balancing content openness with community safety and rule enforcement.

You can read X’s latest transparency report here.