NEWS
EU Probes Elon Musk’s X Over Illegal Content
The European Union (EU), on Monday, initiated action against Elon Musk’s X (formerly known as Twitter) under a new law aimed at combating illegal online content.
This action marks the first major move against an online platform since the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The EU identified disinformation linked to Hamas’s attack in Israel on October 7 as the basis for these “formal infringement proceedings,” reinforcing online companies’ responsibility for content moderation.
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton highlighted the significance of the Digital Services Act (DSA) by stating, “Today’s opening of formal proceedings against X makes it clear that, with the DSA, the time of big online platforms behaving like they are ‘too big to care’ has come to an end.
“We will now start an in-depth investigation of X’s compliance with the DSA obligations concerning countering the dissemination and amplification of illegal content and disinformation in the EU, transparency of the platforms and design of the user interface.”
The European Commission said a preliminary information-gathering investigation it launched against X in October, which included looking at “the dissemination of illegal content in the context of Hamas’ terrorist attacks against Israel”, led to Monday’s probe.
On the basis of that information, “the Commission has decided to open formal infringement proceedings against X under the Digital Services Act”, it said.
The formal investigation will focus on four main areas: the spread of illegal content, the effectiveness of X’s actions against disinformation, potential limitations on researchers accessing its data, and alleged deceptive practices associated with its Blue Tick subscription.
If found guilty under the DSA, penalties could involve fines reaching up to six percent of the company’s global revenues.
In severe and recurrent cases of violation, the EU holds the authority to prohibit a platform from operating within the 27-nation bloc.
Under the formal investigation of X, the Commission will further collect evidence through additional information requests, interviews, or inspections.
These proceedings grant the Commission the authority to instruct X to take interim or corrective measures while the investigation continues.
The ongoing proceedings against X have no set deadline for conclusion.
Following the initial inquiry against X, the European Commission also initiated similar preliminary investigations into TikTok, YouTube, and Meta (owner of Facebook).
These investigations aim to assess how these platforms managed disinformation and illegal content linked to the Hamas attack.
BIZTELLERS recalls that the Hamas attack on October 7 killed around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, and took an estimated 240 people hostage, according to updated Israeli figures.
In response, Israel retaliated with an intense bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas.
More than 18,800 Palestinians around 70 percent of them women, young children and adolescents have been killed in the Gaza Strip in Israeli bombardments since October 7, according to the Hamas government’s health ministry, and much of the besieged territory has been reduced to rubble.
A 56-year-old shoemaker identified simply as Anthony has reportedly died by suicide inside the Obudu Main Market in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026.
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Anthony, who was said to be from Bekwarra Local Government Area, was found dead inside the market, prompting community leaders to shut down the facility.
The leaders reportedly demanded N300,000 from the deceased’s family for cleansing rites, insisting that the circumstances surrounding his death were considered sacrilegious.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the deceased was a 56-year-old man simply identified as Anthony.
Eitokpah said the police had commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and determine whether foul play was involved.
He said, “Police operatives visited the scene, documented the area, and recovered the body to the mortuary. The circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be established.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
The police spokesman’s statement indicates that the exact circumstances of Anthony’s death remain under investigation.
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, has said President Bola Tinubu deserves to remain in office for a long time, citing the performance of his administration.
Ladoja made the declaration on Monday at the flag-off ceremony for the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu Road in Ogun State, where Tinubu was represented by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The monarch said the event should not be interpreted as an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally, despite repeated references to the ruling party during the ceremony.
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“I’ve been hearing everybody talking APC, APC. Bola Tinubu is not an APC man, no. Bola Tinubu is working and deserves to be president for a long, long time,” Ladoja said.
According to him, the gathering was primarily organised to appreciate Tinubu for approving the road project, which he described as important to the safety and economic wellbeing of residents of Ibadan and surrounding areas.
“This is not an APC rally. It is a rally that we are here to thank Mr President for making this road project possible,” he said.
Ladoja said the road had been associated with security concerns, particularly kidnapping incidents, adding that its reconstruction would improve safety and connectivity.
“Those of us in Ibadan know that the only area in Ibadan, where terrorists have been kidnapping people is this road,” the monarch said.
He maintained that Tinubu’s decision to approve the project demonstrated his concern for the people and argued that the President’s performance should not be viewed solely through the lens of party politics.
“He deserves more than being an APC president. He’s not an APC president. He’s president of Nigeria,” Ladoja said.
The Olubadan, however, acknowledged that the President’s performance could strengthen the APC’s chances in future elections.
“The only thing I can look at is that his performance is likely to help the APC win elections. So, we are not discounting the performance of Mr President at all,” he said.
Ladoja added that opposition parties seeking to challenge the ruling party would have to convince voters that they could provide a credible alternative.
“We believe he deserves a long tenure, even though other parties are scrambling to say they are there when they are not visible,” he said.
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