- Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market warned X owner Elon Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino of penalties if it fails to tackle the spread of illegal content on its platform
- Breton cited riots in the UK that were fueled by false information on X and other social media channels
- However, Yaccarino labelled it as a novel effort to apply European legislation to political activities within the US
Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, warned X owner Elon Musk on Monday, August 12 that the company could face penalties if it fails to tackle the spread of illegal content.
The commissioner reminded Musk of the due diligence requirements established by the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that social networks and streaming platforms curb hate speech and harmful content, as X faces an investigation for possible legal violations.
Breton warns Elon Musk of penalties for illegal content
The commission also informed Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino that the company could encounter penalties and restrictions in Europe if it fails to tackle illegal content, such as incitements to violence and hate speech, on its platform.
Breton warned Musk that the EU is set to fully utilise its Digital Services Act toolkit, which includes interim measures, to shield EU citizens from serious harm.
In a letter shared on X on Monday, Thierry Breton, said, I am writing to you in the context of recent events in the United Kingdom and in relation to the planned broadcast on your platform X of a live conversation between a US presidential candidate and yourself, which will also be accessible to users in 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, including debates and interviews in the context of elections.
“I therefore urge you to promptly ensure the effectiveness of your systems and to report measures taken to my team,” Breton wrote.
Yaccarino labels motive as effort to intervene in US politics
In response to the letter, Yaccarino labelled it as a novel effort to apply European legislation to political activities within the US.
Yaccarino said, “This is an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US. It also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions,” on X.
Riots in UK fueled by false information
Breton cited riots in the UK that were sparked by disinformation about a fatal stabbing incident.
The recent riots were fueled by false information on X and other social media channels, which misidentified the assailant of children at a dance class in an English town as an asylum-seeker.
Musk has since made several inflammatory comments about the situation in the UK on X, including a suggestion that the ongoing violence could escalate into a civil war, with him declaring, “Civil war is inevitable.”
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