Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, has come under fire from major football leagues around the world for its rampant piracy of copyrighted content. Since Musk took over X in October 2022, users have been sharing full-length films from major companies without proper oversight. This issue was further exacerbated by the platform’s updates and features that enabled the unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material. The Premier League, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A, UEFA, CONMEBOL, and several networks and platforms that air the leagues’ games have sent a letter to X CEO Linda Yaccarino, demanding stronger action against copyrighted content.
The letter accuses X of having “persistent failings” in moderating unlawful distribution of copyrighted material since Musk’s acquisition. It highlights X’s insufficient approach to taking down unlawful live content and a reduction in technical support, making it difficult to address the problem effectively. X’s content moderation resources were also decreased by 20 percent, which further exacerbated the issue. The letter emphasizes that X lacks the necessary features deployed by responsible social media operators to combat piracy. As a result, pirates perceive that they can freely share illegal content on X.
Mashable has noticed illegal livestreams spreading on X during recent tournaments like the 2024 Copa América and Euros. Despite the detection of these streams, they were rarely taken down, and when one was removed, a new feed would quickly replace it. Mashable has reached out to X for comment on these streams and the issues mentioned in the letter.
While X has lost users to competitor platforms in recent years, it remains a popular platform for sports fans. X is still the go-to platform for real-time discussions about major games and matches. However, X’s relationship with sports leagues and broadcasters could be jeopardized by its lackluster response to pirated content. Advertiser boycotts have already occurred due to Musk’s leadership and behavior. The leagues and organizations behind the letter are urgently requesting a meeting with X’s representatives to address the unacceptable situation.
In conclusion, Elon Musk’s X is facing backlash from major football leagues and organizations for its failure to address the rampant piracy of copyrighted content on the platform. This issue has been ongoing since Musk’s acquisition of X and has been exacerbated by the platform’s updates and features. X’s inadequate approach to content moderation and reduction in technical support have allowed pirates to freely share illegal content. This situation could potentially impact X’s dominance in the sports community and its relationship with leagues and broadcasters.
