European Commissioner for the EU Internal Market Thierry Breton addressed Elon Musk over the billionaire’s interview with US presidential candidate Donald Trump. He urged the businessman to counteract the spread of “harmful content” on Platform X.
The European Commissioner posted the letter on social media. He began with the phrase that with a large audience comes greater responsibility.
Thierry Breton reminded Elon Musk that he has a legal obligation to ensure that Company X complies with European law.
“As the individual entity ultimately controlling a platform with over 300 million users worldwide, of which one third in the EU, that has been designated as a Very Large Online Platform, you have the legal obligation to ensure X’s compliance with EU law and in particular the DSA in the EU,” the letter says.
According to him, on the one hand, this means ensuring effective protection of freedom of expression and information, including freedom and pluralism of the media. And on the other hand, it means taking all necessary measures to mitigate the consequences of “the amplification of harmful content in connection with relevant events, including live streaming, which, if unaddressed, might increase the risk profile of X and generate detrimental effects on civic discourse and public security.”
“… we are monitoring the potential risks in the EU associated with the dissemination
of content that may incite violence, hate and racism in conjuction with major political – or societal – events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections,” Thierry Breton emphasized.
It also noted that any negative impact of illegal content on X in the EU that could be attributed to X’s ineffective application of the relevant DSA provisions could be relevant in the context of ongoing litigation and the overall assessment of X’s compliance with EU law.
“My services and I will be extremely vigilant to any evidence that points to breaches of the DSA and will not hesitate to make full use of our toolbox, including by adopting interim measures, should it be warranted to protect EU citizens from serious harm,” said the European Commissioner.
Elon Musk responded to Thierry Breton’s appeal in a rude and sarcastic manner. He wrote that he would really like to respond with a meme from Tropic Thunder, but “I would NEVER do something so rude & irresponsible!” He illustrated his post with an image:
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