### European Press Stands Against Elon Musk's Social Media Platform

News publishers, press freedom advocates, and journalists across Europe have recently united in opposition to X, the social media platform operated by Elon Musk. This collective backlash is spearheaded by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a prominent press freedom NGO, which has taken legal action against X in France. RSF accuses the platform of failing to remove fake news and misleading content, specifically highlighting a video that falsely attributed Nazi beliefs to members of the Ukrainian army. Despite repeated reports of illegal content, the video, which garnered nearly 500,000 views by mid-September, remains active on the platform.

Antoine Bernard, RSF’s director of advocacy, stated that X's refusal to take down known false and deceitful content makes the platform complicit in spreading disinformation. This legal move underscores the growing frustration among the press over X’s content moderation practices, which many argue have deteriorated since Musk took over the platform in 2022.

The Guardian, a leading UK newspaper, also announced its departure from X, describing the platform as "toxic" and criticizing Musk's influence on the U.S. election. The Guardian cited the prevalence of disturbing content, including far-right conspiracy theories and racism, as key reasons for its exit. Similarly, Spanish daily La Vanguardia has exited X, pointing to the platform’s increased dissemination of conspiracy theories and misinformation.

Adding to the discontent, French publishers have initiated a legal case against X, accusing the platform of refusing to engage in mandatory discussions regarding content payments. Under the EU’s copyright rules, news organizations are entitled to remuneration for the use of their content on social media. A French court previously ruled in favor of media organizations, including Le Monde, Le Figaro, Le Parisien, and AFP, ordering X to provide information to calculate the owed payments. However, X has not complied with this decision, prompting further legal action.

The timing of these developments is particularly sensitive as Europe navigates its response to the election of Donald Trump. Musk, a known supporter of Trump, has been criticized by European Union officials for turning X into a hub for fake news and harmful content. The platform now faces a landmark case under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which examines its role in spreading disinformation and neglecting content moderation.

The escalating conflict highlights a broader frustration within the press over the lack of compensation for the traffic that news content generates on social media. French publishers, in particular, are intensifying pressure on X to comply with legal obligations and negotiations over payment for using their copyrighted content. The outcome of these legal battles could significantly influence the future landscape of content moderation and press remuneration on social media platforms.