X publishes first transparency report led by Elon Musk: All about it

For the first time since Elon Musk took over XFormerly known as Twitter, Twitter published a transparency report in October 2022 detailing its content moderation actions in the first half of 2024. The 15-page report Global Transparency Reportpublished on Wednesday, September 25, provides the first comprehensive insight into how X handles user content since its previous report in December 2021.

Before Musk’s acquisition, Twitter regularly published semi-annual transparency reports through its Transparency Centera practice that began in 2012. This latest release marks a return to that tradition, highlighting key metrics on account suspensions, content removals, and enforcement of rules under Musk’s leadership.

Significant increase in account suspensions and content removals

According to the report, X suspended nearly 5.3 million accounts between January and June 2024, a notable increase compared to the 1.6 million suspensions during the same period in 2022. In addition, more than 10.6 million posts were flagged or removed for violating platform policies. A significant portion of these posts, around 5 million, were flagged under the platform’s “hateful conduct” policy.

Violent content and posts related to abuse and harassment also accounted for large volumes of moderation activity. Specifically, 2.2 million posts with violent content and 2.6 million posts related to abuse or harassment were labeled or removed for violating X’s guidelines.

Tackling child exploitation and abuse

A key focus of the report was X’s efforts to combat child exploitation. The platform reported 370,588 cases of child exploitation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the first half of 2024, a legal requirement for social media companies. The report further indicated that X suspended more than 2 million accounts linked to child abuse material (CSAM).

Commitment to Human Rights and ‘Freedom of Speech, Not Freedom of Access’

X’s approach to content moderation is based on human rights principles, the report said. The platform emphasized a holistic approach to freedom of expression, which includes not only punitive measures but also efforts aimed at education, rehabilitation and deterrence.

“Our policies and enforcement principles are based on human rights and we take a comprehensive and holistic approach to freedom of expression by investing in the development of a broader range of remedial measures, with a specific focus on education, rehabilitation and deterrence,” the report said.

The report also highlighted X’s enforcement philosophy, which Musk previously described as “Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Reach.” This approach allows the platform to limit the visibility of certain content as an alternative to removing it outright. “We limit the reach of posts only where appropriate to make the content less discoverable as an alternative to removal,” the report added.

Looking ahead

As X continues to adapt under Musk’s leadership, this latest transparency report offers a glimpse into the platform’s evolving approach to content moderation and enforcement. The report marks a pivotal moment in the platform’s ongoing efforts to balance free speech with responsible content management, reflecting Musk’s broader vision for the platform’s future.