The European Union issued a stern warning to Elon Musk on Monday, urging him to address the spread of harmful content on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). This warning comes just hours before Musk is set to interview former U.S. President Donald Trump live on the platform.
Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, reminded Musk of his obligations under the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA). This legislation requires digital platforms to actively monitor and remove illegal content and disinformation to protect users.
Breton’s letter, which was posted on X, emphasized that these responsibilities apply across the platform, including to Musk, who boasts over 190 million followers. “With great audience comes greater responsibility,” Breton wrote, highlighting the potential dangers of amplifying harmful content within the EU.
The letter specifically mentioned Musk’s upcoming interview with Trump and recent inflammatory comments about far-right riots in the United Kingdom as examples of content that could incite violence, hate, and racism.
Breton warned that the EU is closely watching the situation and would not hesitate to act if X is found to be violating the DSA. “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. 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,” Breton stated.
Since Musk acquired the platform in 2022, he has faced accusations of turning X into a hub for right-wing conspiracy theories. A recent analysis by the Center for Countering Digital Hate revealed that Musk’s false or misleading claims about the U.S. elections have garnered nearly 1.2 billion views on X.
