EU’s Thierry Breton reminds Elon Musk of his legal obligations under the Digital Services Act, ahead of Trump's live-streamed interview on X. Compliance is critical to maintaining civic discourse and public security.
On Monday, Elon Musk hosted a live-streamed conversation with US presidential candidate Donald Trump on his platform, X, formerly known as Twitter. This high-profile event, which marked Trump’s return to X, has caught the attention of European Union officials, particularly Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market chief.
Just hours before the interview, Breton issued a stern reminder to Musk regarding his legal obligations under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA). In a letter shared on X, Breton emphasized Musk's responsibility to ensure that all "proportionate and effective mitigation measures" are in place to prevent the amplification of harmful content, especially during live-streamed events.
Breton's warning comes amidst growing concerns in Brussels about X's role in potentially inciting violence or public disorder through unmoderated content. The EU has been closely monitoring the platform, particularly since Musk’s acquisition of X in 2022, and the reinstatement of Trump’s account after it was banned in 2021 for inciting the Capitol attacks.
Breton highlighted that failing to comply with the DSA could significantly increase X’s risk profile and negatively impact civic discourse and public security. The DSA is particularly stringent for platforms classified as "very large" online platforms or search engines, a category that includes X and 19 other services. These platforms are required to adhere to the most rigorous digital regulations set by the EU.
This exchange marks another chapter in the ongoing tension between Musk and the EU, with the billionaire recently announcing plans to sue the European Commission over accusations of breaching the DSA. Despite these legal battles, Breton remains resolute in enforcing the EU's digital rulebook, stating that the Commission will be "extremely vigilant" in monitoring compliance.
The EU's concerns are not limited to the bloc itself. Although the United Kingdom is no longer under EU jurisdiction following Brexit, Breton expressed alarm over the potential spillover of content from the UK to EU audiences, further complicating the regulatory landscape.
As the global audience for X continues to grow, with an estimated 300 million users, a third of whom are in the EU, the platform's content moderation practices will remain under intense scrutiny from both regulators and the public.
Source: Euronews
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