X has by far the least number of content moderators among VLOPs 

With only 2294 moderators responsible for monitoring content in the EU on its platform, X has less than half of TikTok’s allocation (6125) and by far less than other US-based very large online platforms (VLOPs) like YouTube ( 7319) and Google (19974). This time, news of yet another spate of the company’s lay offs has triggered concerns from the European Commission. For the Commission, the move is particularly concerning as it coincides with the dawn of several digitally-related legislation, including the EU Digital Service Act, which expects platforms, beginning with VLOPs, to decrease the amount of harmful content visible on their platforms. Amidst talk of a potential barrage of pushbacks from tech giants, the Commission has begun to increase its capacity by hiring additional staff for the DSA enforcement. 

Why does it matter?

Both the number and act of Elon Musk decreasing the number of content moderators dedicated to the EU region has far-reaching consequences for the bloc and beyond. Not only is it likely that fewer moderators will equal fewer checks and captures of harmful content on the platform but X’s positioning can result in other platforms following suit, rendering it challenging to enforce the DSA and other related laws. Also, with the EU as the forerunner in content moderation legislation, its ability to manage VLOPs and other platforms might indicate how other blocks will fare.