Thierry Breton, the European Union’s top digital official, issued a formal reminder to Elon Musk on Monday regarding his legal obligations to curb “harmful content” on X, formerly Twitter. This warning comes just hours before Musk is scheduled to conduct a live interview with former President Donald Trump on the platform.
“With great audience comes greater responsibility,” Breton posted on X, alongside the letter detailing Musk’s obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA mandates that digital platforms take effective measures to control online content and protect users from harm.
The EU is currently investigating X’s compliance with the DSA, which requires rigorous moderation of online content to prevent the spread of illegal material and disinformation. In his letter, Breton emphasized that the DSA’s requirements apply equally to all users of X, including Musk himself, who has over 190 million followers.
“The DSA obligations apply without exceptions or discrimination to the moderation of the whole user community and content of X (including yourself as a user with over 190 million followers),” Breton wrote.
Also read: Who Is Thierry Breton? The EU Official Warning Musk Ahead Of Trump Interview
The reminder was particularly prompted by concerns over the potential amplification of harmful content linked to Musk’s upcoming Trump interview and his recent controversial remarks about far-right riots in the UK. Breton highlighted that the EU is closely monitoring risks associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate, or racism, especially in the context of major global political and societal events.
Breton warned, “My services and I will be extremely vigilant to any evidence that points to breaches of the DSA and will not hesitate to make full use of our toolbox, including by adopting interim measures, should it be warranted to protect EU citizens from serious harm.”
Musk, who also leads Tesla and SpaceX, has become a significant figure in US politics and is accused of transforming Twitter into a platform that amplifies right-wing conspiracy theories following his acquisition of the company in 2022. Analysis from the Center for Countering Digital Hate has revealed that Musk’s false or misleading claims about US elections have garnered nearly 1.2 billion views on X, which has approximately 300 million daily users, with a third of them based in the EU.
The EU’s investigation into X is examining the platform’s effectiveness in managing disinformation, especially in light of significant reductions in content moderation resources under Musk’s leadership. Breton had previously visited California in the spring of last year to meet with tech leaders, including Musk, to discuss their obligations under the DSA and the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
During that visit, Musk had committed to adhering to the new regulations, but the relationship has since become strained. Last month, Musk accused the European Commission of offering X a “secret deal” to censor speech and threatened legal action over the matter.
Breton has rejected Musk’s claims of a secret deal, stating, “It’s up to you to decide whether to offer commitments or not… See you (in court or not).”
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