European Commission Tries To Force Elon Musk To Censor Trump
The European Commission is attempting to compel Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly Twitter), to censor Donald Trump on the platform during his return to it for a “live conversation.” A letter from Thierry Breton of the European Commission threatened Musk regarding the “amplification of harmful content,” asserting that Musk must comply with EU laws that govern content related to European politics. The letter emphasizes the need for a balance between freedom of expression and the mitigation of harmful content that could incite violence or discrimination. Additionally, it suggests that Musk must keep EU authorities informed about the moderation actions taken against such content. Musk’s resistance to these efforts reflects a broader tension between U.S. free speech principles and EU regulatory approaches to content moderation. The article highlights the implications of the Commission’s actions for free speech and potential repercussions for X as it navigates international content regulation challenges.
The European Commission, described as the “executive arm” of the European Union, is trying to force X CEO Elon Musk to censor presidential candidate Donald Trump on an American platform.
Musk announced on Sunday that he and Trump are set to host a “live conversation” on X, marking Trump’s return to the platform. But a letter from Thierry Breton of the European Commission issued a threat on Monday to Musk over the “amplification of harmful content.”
The letter claims Musk, who owns a U.S.-based company, is obligated to adhere to EU law meant to govern European politics. The letter also claims Breton and his “services” aim to “protect EU citizens from serious harm.”
“This notably means ensuring, on one hand, the freedom of expression and of information, including media freedom and pluralism, are effectively protected and, on the other hand, that all proportionate and effective mitigation measures are put in place regarding the amplification of harmful content in connection with relevant events, including live streaming, which, if unaddressed, might increase the risk profile of X and generate detrimental effects on civic discourse and public security,” the letter states.
The letter then suggests Musk must inform “EU judicial and administrative authorities without undue delay on the measures taken to address their orders against content considered illegal, according to national and/ or EU law” and “publicly report[] about content moderation measures,” among other things.
“As the relevant content is accessible to EU users and being amplified also in our jurisdiction, we cannot exclude potential spillovers into the EU,” the letter reads. “Therefore, we are monitoring the potential risks in the EU associated with the dissemination of content that may incite violence, hate and racism in conjunction with major political — or societal — events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections.”
“My services and I will be extremely vigilant to any evidence that points to breaches of the [Digital Services Act] and will not hesitate to make full use of our toolbox, … should it be warranted to protect EU citizens from serious harm.”
Musk has torpedoed the government’s efforts to use X as a platform to censor Trump or suppress any story that may hurt the democratic candidate as they did in 2020. Now, other countries threaten Musk for supporting free speech, the bedrock of the American foundation.
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