On Monday, the European Union issued a stern warning to Elon Musk, urging him to take action against the spread of harmful content on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). This notice came just hours before Musk is scheduled to conduct a live interview with former U.S. President Donald Trump 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 misinformation to safeguard users.
Breton’s letter, shared on X, emphasized that these obligations apply to everyone on the platform, including Musk himself, who has over 190 million followers. “With great audience comes greater responsibility,” Breton wrote, highlighting the potential risks of amplifying harmful content within the EU.
He specifically pointed to Musk’s upcoming interview with Trump and recent controversial comments about far-right riots in the UK as examples of content that could incite violence, hatred, and racism.
Breton warned that the EU is closely monitoring the situation and would not hesitate to take action if X is found to violate the DSA. “We are vigilant about the risks associated with content that may incite violence, hate, and racism, particularly in relation to major political or societal events globally,” Breton wrote. “My team and I will be highly alert to any breaches of the DSA and will use all available measures, including interim actions if necessary, to protect EU citizens from serious harm.”
Since Musk’s acquisition of the platform in 2022, X has faced accusations of becoming a breeding ground for right-wing conspiracy theories. A recent analysis by the Center for Countering Digital Hate revealed that Musk’s false or misleading claims about U.S. elections have amassed nearly 1.2 billion views on X.