For the first time since Elon Musk’s takeover of X, formerly known as Twitter, in October 2022, the platform has released a transparency report detailing its content moderation actions during the first half of 2024. The 15-page Global Transparency Report, published on Wednesday, September 25, provides the first comprehensive look into X’s handling of user content since its previous report in December 2021.
Before Musk’s acquisition, Twitter regularly published semi-annual transparency reports through its Transparency Center, a practice that began in 2012. This latest release signals a return to that tradition, highlighting key metrics on account suspensions, content removal, and rule enforcement 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 surge compared to the 1.6 million suspensions during the same period in 2022. Additionally, over 10.6 million posts were flagged or removed for violating platform policies. A significant portion of these posts—about 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 involving violent content and 2.6 million posts related to abuse or harassment were either labeled or removed for breaching 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 obligation for social media companies. Furthermore, the report indicated that X had suspended over 2 million accounts linked to child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Commitment to human rights and ‘Freedom of Speech, Not Freedom of Reach’
X’s approach to content moderation is grounded in human rights principles, according to the report. The platform emphasized a holistic approach to freedom of expression, which includes not only punitive measures but also efforts focused on education, rehabilitation, and deterrence.
“Our policies and enforcement principles are grounded in human rights, and we have been taking an extensive and holistic approach towards freedom of expression by investing in developing a broader range of remediations, with a particular focus on education, rehabilitation, and deterrence,” the report stated.
The report also highlighted X’s enforcement philosophy, which Musk has 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 entirely. “We restrict 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 provides a glimpse into the platform’s evolving approach to content moderation and enforcement. The report marks a critical moment in the platform’s ongoing efforts to balance freedom of expression with responsible content management, reflecting Musk’s broader vision for the future of the platform.
