In a significant development, European Commissioner for Internal Markets Thierry Breton has issued a stern warning to Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform “X” (formerly known as Twitter), regarding compliance with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). Breton’s letter, dated Monday, threatens potential legal action if Musk’s platform fails to follow the regulations during a live interview with former President Donald Trump.
Breton’s letter underscores the responsibility of “X” to enforce “effective mitigation measures” to prevent the spread of “harmful content” during the live event. The interview, set for 8 p.m. on Monday, has prompted the EU to closely monitor the platform due to concerns about content that could incite violence, hate, and racism.
“As the relevant content is accessible to EU users and being amplified also in our jurisdiction, we cannot exclude potential spillovers in the EU,” Breton wrote. He highlighted the necessity of monitoring the potential risks associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate, and racism, especially during major political or societal events globally, including debates and interviews related to elections.
Breton warned Musk that any violation of the DSA could lead to legal action against “X.” “Let me clarify that any negative effect of illegal content on X in the EU, which could be attributed to the ineffectiveness of the way in which X applies the relevant provisions of the DSA, may be relevant in the context of the ongoing proceedings and the overall assessment of X’s compliance with EU law,” his letter continued. He referenced previous actions taken in relation to the amplification of terrorist content or content that incites violence, hate, and racism, such as during the recent riots in the United Kingdom.
The DSA, which became effective in August 2023, aims to enforce stricter content moderation on “very large online platforms,” targeting illegal content and “disinformation,” and imposing restrictions on targeted advertising.
In response to Breton’s letter, X CEO Linda Yaccarino stated on the platform, “This is an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the U.S. It also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions.”
In July, the EU had accused X of violating the DSA, citing Musk’s verification policy on the platform as potentially misleading to users, according to CBS News. Musk had removed verification badges, known as the blue check, from all verified accounts of notable individuals and currently charges $8 for users to obtain the blue check
