Failure by Elon Musk and X to Adhere to These Regulations May Incur Penalties of Up to 6% of Their Annual Revenue
Thierry Breton, the European Union Commissioner, has issued a strong warning to Elon Musk, CEO of X (formerly known as Twitter), regarding the proliferation of illegal content and disinformation on the platform. This cautionary message follows recent terrorist attacks conducted by Hamas against Israel.
Failure to adhere to these regulations could lead to penalties, including fines of up to 6 per cent of a company’s annual revenue. Breton urged Musk to ensure a swift, accurate, and comprehensive response within a 24-hour timeframe.
In an open letter directed at Elon Musk, Breton expressed his concerns about X being used as a platform for the dissemination of illegal content and disinformation within the European Union (EU). He reminded Musk of the obligations outlined in the Digital Services Act (DSA) regarding content moderation.
Breton also pointed out that recent changes in public interest policies on X have left many European users uncertain. He stressed that when X receives notifications of illegal content in the EU, it must promptly, diligently, and impartially remove the relevant content.
The Commissioner further highlighted instances of fake and manipulated images circulating on X, including repurposed images from unrelated armed conflicts and military footage from video games, described as “clearly false or misleading information.” He urged Musk to implement measures to address these risks.
In response to Breton’s letter, Musk stated, “Our policy is one of complete openness and transparency, an approach that I believe the EU supports. Please provide a list of the violations you mentioned on X, so the public can review them.”
Breton then replied to Musk, saying, “You are well aware of reports from your users and authorities regarding fake content and the promotion of violence. It is up to you to demonstrate that you are acting in line with your stated principles. My team is available to ensure compliance with the DSA, which the EU will continue to rigorously enforce.
