In a significant move, the European Commission has issued a stern warning to Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and owner of X (formerly Twitter), regarding the management of harmful content on his platform. The warning comes ahead of a scheduled live conversation between Musk and former U.S. President Donald Trump, which will be accessible to users in the European Union.
The warning was delivered in a formal letter by Thierry Breton, a key member of the European Commission. The letter focused on X's obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a major EU regulation designed to govern large online platforms with stringent standards for content management. With over 300 million users worldwide, X has been designated as a "Very Large Online Platform" under the DSA, subjecting it to heightened responsibilities to comply with EU laws.
Breton’s letter specifically addressed the upcoming live interview, noting that X must ensure its content adheres to EU standards, particularly in light of its reach among EU citizens. “As the individual entity ultimately controlling a platform with over 300 million users worldwide, of which one-third are in the EU, that has been designated as a Very Large Online Platform, you have the legal obligation to ensure X’s compliance with EU law and in particular the DSA in the EU”, Breton wrote.
The letter emphasized X's dual responsibility: to protect freedom of expression while simultaneously implementing effective measures to mitigate the spread of harmful content. Breton pointed to recent unrest in the UK as an example of how content amplification on social media can lead to violence, hatred, and disinformation, especially during politically sensitive times.
“This is important against the background of recent examples of public unrest brought about by the amplification of content that promotes hatred, disorder, incitement to violence, or certain instances of disinformation,” Breton added.
Furthermore, Breton highlighted ongoing legal proceedings against X concerning its handling of illegal content under the DSA. He underscored the potential risks posed by X’s content practices, particularly during major political events, and warned of the significant spillover effects that could occur within the EU. “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”, he stated.
The letter concluded with a clear warning to Musk: “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”.
During the live broadcast with Trump, Musk responded to Breton’s letter by expressing concern over what he described as growing 'attempts of censorship, even from other countries'. Trump, shifting the focus of the conversation, discussed economic issues, including the trade deficit between the U.S. and the EU, and reflected on his efforts to get NATO allies to contribute more financially during his presidency.