X reports 9 terrorism complaints from Indian users in November

For the first time in 2024, micro-blogging platform X (formerly Twitter) reported nine user grievances related to terrorism and violent extremism in November. While the company has been regularly posting the total number of accounts suspended for promotion of terrorism, this is the first time in 2024 that users have raised complaints regarding the same.

Between October 26 and November 25, X reported 9 complaints of terrorism from Indian users but did not take action on any of these grievances. In terms of proactive monitoring of data, it suspended 604 accounts for promoting terrorism, almost the same as the 599 accounts suspended in October but 52 per cent lesser than the 1,281 accounts taken down in September.

In February, the Tech Transparency Project (TTP), an organisation that seeks to hold big tech accountable, accused X of providing premium, paid services to the accounts of known terrorist groups. Later in August, the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), of which X is a member, raised concerns about the content posted on the platform by the Hamas militant group.

Hateful content declined in recent years

Despite the sudden rise in terror complaints, user grievances against abuse and harassment went down around 39 per cent between September and November. Grievances on hateful conduct reduced by five per cent between September and October and then declined by 49 per cent between October and November.

Explicit content on the rise

Complaints against explicit content, like sensitive adult content, increased from 812 grievances in September to 1,513 grievances in October to 2,323 grievances in November. Similarly, complaints of child sexual exploitation increased from 112 grievances in September to 115 grievances in October to 225 grievances in November.