‘X’ announces new center with focus on child safety measures

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NEW YORK, Jan 28: In a strategic move to reinforce content and safety regulations, Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, has unveiled plans to establish a “Trust and Safety Center of Excellence” in Austin, Texas. The initiative aims to hire 100 full-time content moderators at the new location, with a primary focus on combating material related to child sexual exploitation (CSE).

Joe Benarroch, Head of Business Operations at X, emphasized that the dedicated team will not only combat CSE content but will also enforce the platform’s broader rules, including restrictions on hate speech and violent posts. Although the company did not specify the operational timeline for the new center, it marks a significant step in enhancing content moderation efforts.

While X does not have a specific focus on children, Benarroch stressed the importance of such investments to prevent offenders from exploiting the platform for the distribution or engagement with CSE content. The platform’s age requirement ensures users must be at least 13 years old, and less than 1% of daily users fall within the 13-17 age bracket, with additional safeguards in place to protect younger users from targeted advertising.

Elon Musk has faced criticism for scaling back trust and safety operations since assuming control of X in October 2022. He has also rescinded certain policies, including those related to misinformation, as part of an effort to prioritize “free speech” on the platform.

The announcement’s timing aligns with the upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on child safety online, where X’s Chief Executive Officer, Linda Yaccarino, is scheduled to testify. Yaccarino engaged with senators in Washington to discuss X’s efforts in addressing CSE and other problematic content. She aimed to underscore the platform’s distinctions from Twitter, highlighting the company’s evolving policies and leadership under Musk.

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