Elon Musk, the owner of the social media platform X, hosted a live-streamed conversation with US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Prior to the interview, the EU’s internal market chief Thierry Breton urged Musk to comply with legal obligations under the EU’s digital rulebook. Breton emphasized the importance of implementing effective measures to mitigate the spread of harmful content, especially during live-streamed events. Failure to do so could have negative effects on civic discourse and public security.
The conversation between Musk and Trump took place on Trump’s X channel on Monday morning. Trump had previously been banned from the platform for inciting violence during the 2021 Capitol attacks, but his account was restored after Musk acquired the platform in 2022. The EU has been closely monitoring Musk’s activities since taking over X, as the platform is now classified as a ‘very large’ online platform under the Digital Services Act (DSA). This has led to tensions between Musk and Breton, who have clashed over issues such as transparency in the ‘blue check’ verification program.
In response to concerns about X’s role in spreading harmful content, Breton highlighted the platform’s potential to incite violence or public disorder. He specifically mentioned X’s involvement in recent unrest in the United Kingdom, which Musk has been accused of fueling. While the UK is no longer part of the EU, the executive branch has expressed concern about the impact of UK content on EU audiences. Breton emphasized the need for strict adherence to the DSA regulations, warning that the EU would take action to protect citizens from serious harm if necessary.
X boasts an estimated 300 million users worldwide, with a significant portion located in the EU. Breton’s letter to Musk underscores the EU’s commitment to monitoring and enforcing digital regulations, even for platforms based outside the bloc. The correspondence reflects the EU’s resolve to hold platforms like X accountable for the content they host, especially when it has the potential to incite violence or public disorder. Musk’s ongoing legal battle with the European Commission underscores the complexity of regulating online platforms in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape.
