Ofcom's Decisive Action: Holding X Accountable for Illegal Content
Ofcom has taken decisive action in response to our complaint regarding illegal content on X, formerly known as Twitter. The platform was required to remove a significant portion of reported terror and hate posts within 48 hours, following our demand for accountability in March 2026. Our evidence showed that X had been inadequately addressing illegal content, with only a small percentage of posts related to terrorism and extreme violence being moderated.
After investigating the prevalence of terror and hate content on X, Ofcom's research confirmed the platform's poor moderation practices and the widespread nature of such content. This raised concerns about X's failure to fulfill its obligations to protect UK users from illegal content. Faced with the prospect of severe penalties and a formal inquiry, X has now made substantial commitments to improve its content moderation. The platform has pledged to reduce the mean removal time for illegal content to less than 24 hours and to remove 85% of reported terror and hate content within 48 hours.
In addition to these commitments, X will provide regular reports to Ofcom on its progress in handling illegal material. The platform will also collaborate with UK-based experts to enhance its moderation standards and ensure that both AI and human oversight are effective. By holding regulators accountable, we can ensure that even the largest tech companies are held responsible for their actions.
X, under the leadership of Elon Musk, had previously operated with a sense of impunity, allowing extremist rhetoric to flourish while neglecting public safety measures. However, the tide is turning, and the era of unchecked power for big tech companies is coming to an end. We will closely monitor X and Ofcom to ensure that illegal content is effectively managed and that the platform upholds its commitments to safeguard users.