The European Commission has cautioned Elon Musk, the head of X Holdings Corp., to abstain from incorporating any form of hate speech on the X platform. The warning specifically pertains to an upcoming interview with former US President Donald Trump.
In a letter addressed to Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino, European Commissioner Thierry Breton emphasized the importance of addressing the dissemination of illegal content, including incitements to violence and hate speech, on social media platforms to avoid penalties and restrictions in Europe.
Yaccarino responded to the letter, calling it an attempt to apply European law to US political activities and questioning the assumption that European citizens are incapable of forming their own opinions.
The European Commission is currently investigating X for potential breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates the prevention of hate speech and harmful content on online platforms. The EU warned Musk of potential consequences if X fails to comply with the DSA guidelines.
With over 300 million users worldwide, X is classified as a Very Large Online Platform and is obligated to adhere to European laws. Breton stressed the EU’s commitment to protecting citizens from harmful content that could incite violence or misinformation.
Musk’s previous controversial comments on X regarding the UK riots and civil unrest have drawn criticism from British officials. The UK Prime Minister’s spokesperson denounced Musk’s remarks, stating there is no justification for inciting violence or spreading disinformation.
The European Commission has the authority to enforce interim measures, such as altering recommender systems and monitoring specific keywords, to combat the spread of illegal content on platforms like X. Failure to comply with the DSA could result in fines of up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue.
In addition to hate speech concerns, the commission is also investigating X for violations related to dark patterns, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers.
