X (Formerly Known as Twitter) Amid Israel-Hamas Conflicts: Disinformation Spreads Like a Wildfire

X (Formerly Known as Twitter) is now dealing with another controversy. This week, more misleading content is active on the social media platform and has not been flagged by X’s system.

With thousands of content, including disinformation content, graphic footage of abductions, and military operations, it is difficult for the users to assess what is going on in the region.

Last weekend, X flagged several posts as misleading or false, including a video purportedly showing Israeli airstrikes against Hamas in Gaza. However, it is a bit too late because thousands of users saw the posts, and many shared them. Thus, the posts with the same video and caption were not flagged by X’s system, as these were reshared a thousand times. 

Before the historical event came, X made a surprising move — cutting its disinformation and election integrity team. Last week, X removed headlines from links on the platform, making external links difficult to tell apart from standard photos shared.

What Did Elon Musk Say?

X current CEO Elon Musk has always something to say about any issue, especially if it affects and is related to his businesses. The now-deleted tweet (you can not find it anymore on X) appeared recommending two accounts, @WarMonitors and @sentdefender, on Sunday, Oct. 8.  

“For following the war in real-time, @WarMonitors and @sentdefender are good. It is also worth following direct sources on the ground. Please add interesting options in the replies below.”

Every move Elon makes is about turning Twitter into the place “for following the war in real-time.” He’ll even pay you to share and interpret traumatic images. The site was always a discourse machine but he’s stripping it bare to “read and react.” pic.twitter.com/rXSeoVAQ6j

— os (@mutsu00000) October 8, 2023

The tweet gained attention from the users because the two accounts have been known for posting “wrong and unverifiable things,” Emerson T Brooking, a researcher at the Atlantic Council’s digital forensic research lab, said.

In June, @WarMonitors told a user, “go worship a jew lil bro.” Both accounts have a history of spreading false information. One of them is spreading a false claim suggesting an explosion occurred at the Pentagon in May. 

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