EU issues warning to Elon Musk regarding Donald Trump

Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Market, published a letter on his X social media account that he sent to Musk ahead of the broadcast with Trump.

The letter stated that under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), large audiences bring greater responsibilities.

"I am writing to you in the context of recent events in the United Kingdom and regarding the live broadcast planned between you and a US presidential candidate on your platform X, which will also be accessible to users in the EU," the letter stated, reminding Musk of the obligation to exercise due diligence under EU digital laws.

The letter noted that X has more than 300 million users worldwide, one-third of whom are in the EU, and that it is defined by the EU as a Very Large Online Platform, stating, "You have a legal obligation to ensure X's compliance with EU law and, in particular, the Digital Services Act."

The letter noted that it is necessary to ensure the effective protection of freedom of expression and information, including media freedom and pluralism, while also stating that all proportionate and effective mitigation measures must be taken against the spread of harmful content during events, including live broadcasts.

The letter recalled recent social unrest arising from the proliferation of content promoting hate, disorder, incitement to violence, or certain instances of disinformation.

The letter stated that it is mandatory to inform EU judicial and administrative authorities without delay regarding measures taken against content deemed illegal under national or EU law, and underscored that upon receiving notifications from users that content is illegal, timely, diligent, non-arbitrary, and objective steps must be taken, users must be informed about measures taken regarding the relevant notification, and public reporting on content moderation measures must be provided.

The letter pointed out that DSA obligations apply to all users on X and to content moderation without exception or discrimination.

Emphasizing that Musk, a user with more than 190 million followers, is also subject to this, the letter stated that a profile of this scale must exercise greater care.

The letter assessed that "formal proceedings are already underway against X under the DSA, particularly in areas related to the effectiveness of measures taken to combat the spread of illegal content and disinformation."

Stating that the content related to the broadcast is accessible to EU users and falls under EU jurisdiction, the letter noted the following:

"Therefore, we are monitoring potential risks in the EU related to the spread of content that could incite violence, hate, and racism in connection with significant political or social events worldwide, including debates and interviews in the context of elections."

Reminding that X's illegal content or actions with negative impacts could be taken into account in the ongoing legal assessment in the EU, the letter concluded, "I therefore request that you ensure the effectiveness of your systems immediately and report the measures taken to my team."

The letter emphasized that the European Commission is strictly monitoring whether digital rules are being violated and is prepared to apply interim measures if necessary.

News Source: AA