As Elon Musk prepares for a live interview with former President Donald Trump on his social media platform “X” (formerly Twitter), European Commissioner for Internal Markets Thierry Breton has raised alarms over compliance with EU tech regulations. In a letter dated Monday, Breton warned Musk of potential legal consequences if his platform fails to adhere to the Digital Services Act (DSA) during the interview.
Breton’s concern centers around the obligation of “X” to implement “effective mitigation measures” to prevent the dissemination of “harmful content.” The live event, scheduled for 8 p.m. on Monday, has attracted scrutiny from the EU, which fears that it 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 stressed the importance of monitoring the potential risks associated with disseminating content that may incite violence, hate, and racism, particularly during significant political or societal events worldwide, including election-related debates and interviews.
Breton’s letter explicitly warned Musk that any violation of the DSA could lead the EU to pursue 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,” he stated. He cited previous actions taken in response to the amplification of terrorist content or content inciting violence, hate, and racism, such as during the recent riots in the United Kingdom.
The DSA, which came into effect in August 2023, aims to enforce stricter content moderation on “very large online platforms,” targeting illegal content and “disinformation,” and restricting targeted advertising.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino responded to Breton’s letter on the platform, calling it “an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the U.S.” She added, “It also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions.”
The EU had previously accused X in July of violating the DSA, claiming that Musk’s verification policy could mislead users, according to CBS News. Musk had removed the 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.
Breton reiterated that the EU would “not hesitate” to take action to protect its citizens from serious harm. He insisted that X must comply with the DSA by promptly informing EU judicial and administrative authorities about measures taken to address illegal content and notifying users about the actions taken.
X has deferred to Yaccarino’s statements regarding the issue.
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