The European Commission has issued a stern warning to X Corp. owner Elon Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino, cautioning them about potential penalties and restrictions if the platform fails to address the spread of illegal content, including hate speech and incitements to violence.
This warning comes ahead of a highly anticipated live interview between Musk and former US President Donald Trump, scheduled to air on X’s streaming service, Spaces.
EU scrutinizes X’s compliance with Digital Services Act
In a letter dated Monday, Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for the Internal Market, highlighted concerns about the dissemination of harmful content on X.
Breton emphasized that recent events in the UK, including riots fueled by disinformation spread on social media, have raised red flags regarding the platform’s role in curbing such content.
Breton’s letter, posted on X, called for enhanced effectiveness of X’s content moderation systems, urging the company to report any measures taken to address potential breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
This legislation mandates that social media platforms and streaming services prevent the spread of illegal content and take proactive steps to address hate speech.
X’s response to the EU’s concerns
Linda Yaccarino, X’s CEO, responded to the Commission’s letter by labeling it an “unprecedented attempt” to extend European regulations to US political activities.
Yaccarino argued that the letter undermines European users’ ability to critically assess content and suggested that the EU’s stance reflects an overreach.
Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, is set to host Trump in a live, unscripted conversation on Spaces.
This session, one of Trump’s rare campaign appearances this week, comes amid a highly competitive race with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
The conversation has sparked concern within the EU due to Musk’s recent controversial remarks and his history of inflammatory comments on X.
Recent incidents involving X’s content
The EU’s warning is partly driven by recent incidents involving X’s content.
Musk has faced criticism for making provocative statements about the situation in the UK, including suggesting that ongoing violence could escalate into a civil war.
Additionally, Musk shared a misleading image purporting to be a headline from “The Telegraph,” falsely claiming that the UK was constructing “detainment camps” on the Falkland Islands.
This post, which was later removed, was also shared by Ashlea Simon of the far-right Britain First party.
The UK government has expressed dissatisfaction with Musk’s handling of disinformation on X.
Technology Minister Peter Kyle criticized Musk’s platform for its lack of accountability, likening negotiations with X to dealing with a foreign government due to its significant influence.
The European Commission’s ongoing investigation into X’s adherence to the DSA could result in significant consequences for the company.
The Commission has the authority to enforce interim measures, including changes to recommendation algorithms and increased monitoring of specific content.
In extreme cases, it can impose fines of up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue for DSA violations.
Previously, the Commission has accused X of breaching rules related to dark patterns, advertising transparency, and data access for researchers.
The outcome of the current investigation will likely impact how X manages content and regulatory compliance going forward.
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