The interview between Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump has sparked significant controversy, particularly after the European Union issued a stern warning to the owner of X (formerly Twitter). The warning was given to him ahead of his scheduled interview with former President Trump on the platform.
Now, many are eager to know why did European Union issued a warning to Elon Musk. Here are all the details.
European Union’s warning letter to Elon Musk explained
Ahead of the interview between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, European Commissioner Thierry Breton issued a stern warning to Musk on Monday. He emphasized the need for his social media platform, X, to comply with EU laws that restrict harmful content online. The warning, delivered through an open letter, underscored Musk’s legal responsibilities under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). It requires platforms to prevent the spread of content that could incite violence, hate, or racism.
Breton expressed concerns about the potential amplification of harmful content during the interview, particularly given X’s large global audience. He highlighted the risks of such content spilling over into the EU, especially in connection with major political events. Breton’s letter reminded Musk that X must implement measures to moderate content that poses a threat to public security. The commissioner noted that failure to address these issues could lead to serious consequences for the platform.
Breton also mentioned that recent instances of public unrest in the EU, due to the spread of harmful content, have increased the need for vigilance. He reminded Musk that the EU has a ‘full toolbox’ at its disposal. This includes interim measures to protect citizens from online harm. The commissioner warned that the EU is prepared to take further action if X fails to control the spread of illegal content.
In response to Thierry Breton’s serious warnings, Musk posted a dismissive meme on X. Initially, Musk responded to Breton’s letter with a casual “Bonjour!” followed by a post critical of censorship. He tagged Breton’s post and joked about wanting to use a meme from the movie Tropic Thunder but claimed that he would “never do something so rude.” But, he ends up sharing a meme from the movie with the caption, “Take a big step back and literally, f**k your own face!”
This warning is not Musk’s first encounter with EU scrutiny. The EU is already investigating X for its handling of illegal content and disinformation. Breton’s letter emphasized that any negative effects of illegal content within the EU due to X’s failure to comply with these regulations could influence the ongoing investigation.
