Twitter Faces Turbulence as Top Content Moderation Official Departs Ahead of EU Stress Test
Twitter has experienced the departure of its head of trust and safety, Ella Irwin, just weeks before the company is due to undergo a regulatory stress test conducted by European Union (EU) officials, who are closely examining its handling of user content.
This development underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the company under the ownership of Elon Musk.
The departure of Ella Irwin coincided with a content moderation dispute between Twitter and the conservative outlet Daily Wire.
The disagreement centered around the upcoming release of a self-described documentary titled “What Is a Woman?”
Twitter had warned that the content would be classified as “hateful content” due to instances of misgendering.
However, Elon Musk intervened, labeling the moderation decision as a mistake and confirming that the video would be permitted.
In a statement to CNN, Ella Irwin stated that Musk’s tweet this morning confirmed at least part of the reason for her departure, as it related to the Daily Wire dispute. Twitter has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Irwin’s departure.
The sudden vacancy left by Irwin’s departure could leave Twitter without a key content moderation official during a critical period.
Later this month, EU officials are scheduled to review whether the platform complies with the Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive content moderation law. Noncompliance could potentially result in substantial fines for Twitter.
The DSA requires “very large online platforms,” including Twitter, to adhere to stringent content moderation standards by August.
It remains uncertain whether Twitter can meet these requirements by the deadline, and recent developments have raised concerns among EU regulators.
As Elon Musk has allowed more inflammatory speech on the platform, Twitter has faced reminders from EU officials about its content moderation obligations under the DSA.
These warnings come amid significant layoffs at the company, including the reduction of content moderation teams.
Last month, Twitter withdrew from the European Union’s code of conduct on disinformation, a voluntary commitment to combat misinformation and disinformation.
The EU considers adherence to this code in evaluating a platform’s compliance with the DSA. Twitter’s decision prompted criticism from EU commissioner Thierry Breton, who viewed it as an attempt to evade responsibility.
Ella Irwin’s departure may further erode the EU’s confidence. Without a head of trust and safety, who would typically be expected to participate in the EU stress test, Twitter’s ability to effectively respond during the evaluation may be limited.
The European Commission has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Additionally, The Wall Street Journal reported that Twitter’s head of brand safety and ad quality also left the company this week, adding to its challenges.
These developments pose potential long-term problems for Twitter and Elon Musk, creating additional headaches for Linda Yaccarino as she assumes her role as the company’s new CEO.
Failure to comply with the DSA could result in fines of up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue. Given Twitter’s existing financial struggles, including significant debt and an advertiser backlash, such fines would pose a considerable burden.
