The European Commission recently issued a warning to X Corp., owned by Elon Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino, regarding the spread of illegal content on its social media platform. The warning highlighted concerns about incitements to violence and hate speech being disseminated, especially in the context of major political or societal events around the world.
The European Commissioner for the internal market, Thierry Breton, emphasized the need for X Corp. to address these issues promptly and ensure the effectiveness of its systems to prevent the spread of harmful content. Breton also reminded X Corp. of its obligations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) to prevent hate speech and other harmful content on its platform.
Following the warning from the European Commission, Yaccarino dismissed it as an attempt to impose European laws on political activities in the US. She argued that European citizens are capable of drawing their conclusions and listening to conversations without the need for such policing of content.
The warning from the European Commission comes in light of recent events in the United Kingdom, where riots were sparked by disinformation spread on social media platforms, including X. The dissemination of false news led to violent incidents, prompting concerns about the impact of such content on societal harmony.
Elon Musk’s remarks on social media have also raised alarms, with comments suggesting the possibility of civil war in the UK and sharing misleading information about detainment camps. Such actions have been condemned by British officials, highlighting the potential consequences of irresponsible content dissemination.
The European Commission has launched an investigation into X Corp.’s compliance with the DSA, assessing potential breaches of the law. Breton warned Musk that the EU was prepared to use its enforcement powers, including fines of up to 6% of the company’s global annual revenue, to address violations of the DSA.
The warning issued by the European Commission serves as a reminder of the responsibility that social media platforms like X Corp. have in preventing the spread of illegal content. The need for effective systems and compliance with regulatory frameworks is crucial to safeguarding users from harmful content and maintaining societal harmony. It remains to be seen how X Corp. will address these concerns and ensure compliance with the EU’s regulations to avoid penalties and restrictions in Europe.