Elon Musk has found himself at the center of controversy as the European Commission intensifies its enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), with Thierry Breton playing a key role. As the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, Breton is responsible for ensuring compliance with these global digital safety regulations and efforts to combat online misinformation.
The focus on Breton intensified after Musk alleged that the European Commission sought to broker an “immoral secret agreement” with his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). Musk claimed this purported deal involved X avoiding penalties in exchange for censoring speech, similar to actions taken by other platforms. Following Musk’s rejection of this proposal, X faces accusations of breaching the DSA and could be fined up to 6% of its global revenue.
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Thierry Breton
Thierry Breton, born on January 15, 1955, in Paris, France, has a notable background in both public service and the private sector. Since December 1, 2019, he has been serving as the European Commissioner for the Internal Market. Before taking on this role, Breton was the CEO of Atos, a prominent French technology company, from 2008 to 2019. His leadership experience also includes roles as CEO of France Telecom from 2002 to 2005 and Thomson Multimedia from 1997 to 2002. Additionally, Breton has an impressive political track record, having served as the French Minister for the Economy, Finance, and Industry from 2005 to 2007.
Breton’s academic credentials are equally distinguished. He earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering and computer science from École Supérieure d’Électricité (Supélec), now CentraleSupélec, in 1979. He is also a graduate of the Institut des Hautes Etudes de Défense Nationale (IHEDN), specializing in Defense and Strategic Studies.
As a key figure in shaping the EU’s digital landscape, Breton is often referred to as the Father of the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA mandates platforms to remove harmful content and misinformation to create a safer online environment. Breton, leading the EU through complex digital regulations, is central to French President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to balance controlling unsafe content with preserving freedom of speech.
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