In a strategic move aimed at intensifying efforts against online child sexual exploitation, social media powerhouse X (formerly Twitter) is recruiting 100 content moderators for its forthcoming office in Austin, Texas.
The company’s executive, Joe Benarroch, disclosed on Saturday that the initiative is part of a broader mission to curb child abuse content, with aspirations to complete the hiring process by the year’s end.
The announcement of the new Trust and Safety Center of Excellence precedes a significant U.S. Senate hearing scheduled for January 31, focusing on online child sexual exploitation. X Chief Executive Officer, Linda Yaccarino, is slated to testify alongside the CEOs of industry heavyweights Meta Platforms, Snap, TikTok, and Discord.
“The team is currently being built,” stated Joe Benarroch, X’s Head of Business Operations, regarding the formation of the Austin office. He emphasized that achieving the hiring target by the end of the year hinges on securing the right talent for the critical task at hand.
Since billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk acquired Twitter, in 2022, he has faced criticism for both his own controversial posts and his endeavors to revamp the platform’s content moderation policies.
In a blog post released on Friday, X reported a substantial increase in its efforts to combat child sexual exploitation, noting the suspension of 12.4 million accounts in the past year alone for violating the company’s rules. This marked a significant surge from the 2.3 million account suspensions recorded in 2022, Reuters news report said.
Notably, the newly established Austin center will not only focus on combating child abuse content but will also play a pivotal role in tackling various forms of harmful content, according to statements released by X.
