Before Trump interview: EU Commissioner threatens X with measures

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Shortly before the planned live broadcast of a conversation between Elon Musk and US presidential candidate Donald Trump, EU Commissioner Thierry Breton reminded the X owner of its obligations as a platform operator in the EU. On the one hand, X must ensure the free exchange of opinions, and on the other, it must take measures to prevent the spread of disinformation.

Under the European Digital Services Act (DSA), X must ensure that no harmful content is disseminated that "could have a detrimental impact on civil discourse and public safety", according to a letter to Musk and X CEO Linda Yaccarino, which Breton published on Monday evening.

Musk and Trump live

Breton takes the conversation between Musk and Trump, which is to be broadcast live on X on Monday evening (US East Coast time, German time Tuesday 2 a.m.), as the reason for the letter. Because this can also be received in the EU, X must comply with European law and in particular the Digital Services Act, Breton said.

"This is important in the light of recent examples of public disorder caused by the dissemination of content promoting hatred, riots, incitement to violence or certain cases of disinformation," Breton apparently emphasized, referring to the protests and riots in the UK following an act of violence in which a 17-year-old killed three young children and injured several people.

The Commission continues to monitor "the potential risks in the EU" posed by content shared on X such as "violence, hatred and racism linked to important political - or social - events". This also includes "debates and interviews related to elections".

Breton threatens to take action

Breton refers to the ongoing EU proceedings against X and again threatens to take action. He and his officials would "not hesitate to use our full range of instruments, including by adopting interim measures, if this is justified to protect EU citizens from serious harm", Breton threatens the X owner. Breton does not elaborate on how the broadcasting of a US election campaign event should lead to public unrest in Europe.

The fact that an EU Commissioner is intervening in the US election campaign in this way is unusual to say the least. CEO Linda Yaccarino speaks of an "unprecedented attempt" to extend European law to political activities in the USA. "Furthermore, European citizens are being patronized by implying that they are not capable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions", Yaccarino explained on X.

Trump tweets again

Musk himself makes fun of Breton's letter on X- with a meme that picks up on a scene from Ben Stiller's comedy "Tropic Thunder". In it, Tom Cruise plays an overweight film producer who can be very persuasive on the phone.

Trump got his old Twitter account back up and running on Monday. @RealDonaldTrump was suspended from Twitter following the events at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. After taking over Twitter, Musk unblocked Trump's account. Apart from one tweet on August 25, 2023, the account has been dormant.

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