The social network
Like other foreign dailies such as the Guardian in the United Kingdom or Vanguardia in Spain, the regional daily Ouest France is leaving the social network owned by Elon Musk.
Ouest France cuts ties
In an article, the editorial staff of Ouest France justifies its decision by invoking the recent appointment of Elon Musk to a ministerial post within the Trump administration but also by recalling the evolution of the operating rules of the social network. “In the current state of affairs, it does not seem judicious or appropriate to feed this network, as long as serious guarantees are not deployed in the face of disinformation, harassment and violence” writes the daily editorial.
The daily also cites the blue check mark system, formerly used by the social network to certify the reliability of a source, today transformed into a simple badge for users choosing to pay.
The subject is also in the crosshairs of European regulators. In July, they believed that this system went against European obligations under the European Digital Services Regulation (DSA).
Not active enough on disinformation
In addition to the press titles which are ceasing their activity on the social network, other players in the world of the French press have chosen to launch legal proceedings targeting social network for “dissemination of false news, attack on the representation of the person, identity theft and complicity in the commission of these last two offenses”.
The association accuses the social network of having favored the distribution of a video falsely attributed to RSF on the subject of Ukraine. And this even though RSF had shown that it was part of a disinformation operation and had reported to the social network several publications relaying the incriminating video.
A phenomenon which illustrates according to the association “the absence of moderation giving free rein to disinformation which has become endemic on X”.
Money story
Finally, the social network is also in the sights of several French press companies on the thorny issue of paying neighboring rights. Publishers are relying on the 2019 directive on related rights to request financial compensation from social networks and major digital players who reuse content produced by their journalists.
In this regard, .
In the absence of cooperation from on November 12 for non-compliance with the law on neighboring rights.
France
