In today's digital age, social media has become a true revolution in the dissemination and consumption of news. Thanks to these platforms, millions of people worldwide can access information with a single click. However, this ease brings significant challenges, the foremost being the spread of disinformation.
Among these platforms, "X" (formerly Twitter) stands out as one of the primary channels for disseminating false news, negatively impacting users and society as a whole.
The X platform has gained widespread popularity due to its ease of use and the rapid dissemination of information. However, these very advantages have turned it into a fertile ground for the spread of inaccurate information. Users can post and share content without verifying its authenticity, making it difficult for others to distinguish between truth and falsehood.
In recent years, we have witnessed numerous examples of how X has been used to spread rumors and fake news that lack credible sources.
One of the core issues lies in the ease with which any content can be posted without requiring verification of its authenticity or reliability. With the ever-increasing volume of content circulating on the platform, it becomes increasingly difficult for users to discern between true and misleading information.
In September 2023, a report was released by the Climate Action Against Disinformation (CAAD) to assess content oversight policies and efforts aimed at reducing the spread of inaccurate climate-related information on five social media platforms, including Meta, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, and X (formerly Twitter).
The report's findings indicated that the X platform ranked the lowest among the five, receiving only one point out of a potential 21 for its policies to combat misinformation. This low ranking is attributed to the platform's lack of clear policies for addressing climate-related misinformation and the absence of substantial mechanisms for public transparency.
“Disinformation campaigns often use rumors and false information to create confusion and chaos among both domestic and foreign actors, as well as toward civil entities, with the goal of generating an atmosphere of media opacity and confusion. In some cases, these rumors are directly targeted at the public to sow fear and unrest, particularly during crises such as wars or natural disasters.”
In December 2023, Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner, officially announced suspicions against the X platform (formerly Twitter) in several areas, including violations of regulations against unlawful content and misinformation. He stated that the European Union had officially opened an investigation into the platform for allegedly breaching provisions of the EU Digital Services Act 2022/2065. Breton added that he expects Elon Musk to ensure the effectiveness of the platform’s systems and to brief his team on measures to address the crises contributed to by the platform. He also noted that the platform could face sanctions if the investigation proves non-compliance with the EU Digital Services Act.
In response, Elon Musk, the platform's owner, stated that the platform's policy is centered on being open-source and transparent, asserting that this approach is supported by the European Union. In a post, Musk called on Breton to specify the violations he alluded to so that the public could be informed.
Fake Documents
What also exacerbates the problem and makes X a dangerous medium for sharing and promoting disinformation is that, since April 2023, the platform transformed its verification badge into a paid service. This change no longer considers the users' popularity, activity, or the authenticity of their content, complicating the process of distinguishing between credible sources and impersonators and fake accounts. As a result, users have come to trust these verified accounts, which are often used to spread forged documents, speeches, or information. These accounts take advantage of their verified status to post documents that bear nearly identical signatures and stamps to those of official entities, causing confusion and difficulty for recipients in distinguishing between real and fake.
These disinformation campaigns exploit the dissemination of forged documents to promote misleading agendas by including false and inaccurate information.
On the other hand, the forged documents and letters are among the most effective means of disinformation due to the difficulty in detecting their falsification. These documents often include decisions or statements about ongoing events, making them appear highly credible, thereby facilitating their rapid spread among the public. Moreover, these documents can be used to support misleading claims or disseminate rumors aimed at shaping public opinion in specific ways that serve particular agendas.
The Impact of Disinformation
The promotion of misleading news on the X platform leads to a wide range of negative impacts. With the growing number of users, society faces new risks of division and loss of trust in the news. According to a recent study, over 85% of individuals express concern about the effects of online disinformation, and 87% believe it has already harmed the political landscape in their countries.
Mathieu Gallard of the Ipsos firm states, "People are extremely concerned about misinformation, in every country and across all social strata," adding, "They want all actors to combat it."
Between the Real and the Fake
The X platform must take action to curb the spread of misinformation by improving its content oversight system and developing reliable verification technologies to ensure the accuracy of published information before it spreads. Furthermore, X should enhance awareness and education among its users about the importance of verifying news and avoiding the indiscriminate sharing of unverified information.
In November 2023, UNESCO unveiled a plan aimed at regulating the activities of social media platforms. UNESCO’s Director-General, Audrey Azoulay, stated, "The digital world has paved the way for advancements in freedom of expression; however, social media has contributed to the acceleration and increased dissemination of false information and hate speech, posing a significant threat to community life, peace, and stability. To protect access to reliable information, we must regulate these platforms without delay, while safeguarding freedom of expression and human rights."
The rapid advancement in artificial intelligence technologies has contributed to the creation of fake content that appears alarmingly real. Techniques such as text generation, as well as fake images and videos—known as deepfakes—are being successfully used to mislead the public. These technologies enable the dissemination of documents with signatures and seals that closely resemble authentic ones issued by official entities, making it difficult for individuals to distinguish between what is real and what is fake.
Moreover, disinformation campaigns often use rumors and false information to create confusion and chaos among both domestic and foreign actors, as well as toward civil entities, with the goal of generating an atmosphere of media opacity and confusion. In some cases, these rumors are directly targeted at the public to sow fear and unrest, particularly during times of crises such as wars or natural disasters. In such circumstances, society becomes more susceptible to believing these rumors due to heightened levels of anxiety and uncertainty.
The Challenge of Fake Accounts
Misinformation can be particularly powerful when used to influence public opinion during significant events, such as elections or health crises.
Likewise, we have seen how such false news can change the course of public debate and influence both individual and collective decisions. Additionally, communities may become more susceptible to believing fake news during crises, such as armed conflicts or climate-related natural disasters like hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, due to heightened levels of anxiety and uncertainty.
“Social media platforms are increasingly being exploited by unqualified individuals presenting themselves as climate experts. These individuals disseminate misleading statements about climate change, despite lacking any scientific or academic credentials in the field. Nonetheless, they present themselves as reliable sources on X, and their opinions are being amplified to exert greater influence over the public.”
For instance, during the recent Gaza war, hundreds of fake images and stories circulated on social media platforms, particularly on "X." This misinformation included misleading images related to casualties, fabricated narratives, and the sharing of old videos or images from past events presented as if they were new recent events. Additionally, fake accounts frequently changed their names based on current events, posing a significant challenge for platforms responsible for news verification, which must work to enhance credibility and expose false news and fake accounts. In this context, the Yemeni 'Sidq' platform—a fact-checking platform—recently identified a number of fake accounts managed by the Houthi leader Abdulsalam Jahaf.
Following the announcement of the assassination of Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh on July 31, fake accounts emerged using the names of his daughters. Notably, one account named "Latifa Ismail Haniyeh" garnered over 30,000 followers. The Yemeni platform "Sidq" and other platforms conducted verifications to uncover the truth behind this account, revealing that most of them were Yemeni accounts that frequently changed their names and identifiers.
This ongoing challenge faced by fact-checking platforms highlights the importance of efforts to combat media disinformation, particularly in the face of the proliferation of fake accounts that exploit current events to achieve dubious objectives.
Furthermore, social media platforms are increasingly being exploited by unqualified individuals presenting themselves as climate experts. These individuals disseminate misleading statements about climate change, despite lacking any scientific or academic credentials in the field. Nonetheless, they present themselves as reliable sources on X, and their opinions are being amplified to exert greater influence over the public.
The challenge of detecting fake content remains a significant issue due to the massive volumes of information circulated and shared daily.
From this perspective, collaboration among governments, non-governmental organizations, and technology companies is vital for developing effective strategies to combat disinformation. This cooperation ensures that the public can access accurate and reliable information while regularly sharing data through official channels on social media, recognizing the seriousness of misinformation and its rapid spread.
Accordingly, it is imperative for everyone to adopt responsible behaviors when sharing information online and increase awareness of the importance of verifying the accuracy of information before dissemination. This approach will contribute to building a safer and more responsible digital community, where people can rely on accurate data and avoid falling victim to misinformation and deception.
