In a significant clash between the EU and Elon Musk, a top EU official has criticised the tech billionaire for his approach to online moderation.
- Věra Jourová, known for overseeing EU efforts against online misinformation, has labelled Musk as a ‘promoter of evil’.
- X has been accused of enabling the spread of harmful content, including antisemitism, under Musk’s leadership.
- The EU has threatened to fine X for alleged violations of the Digital Services Act.
- Musk has claimed that the EU made a ‘secret deal’ to avoid fines, though this is denied by the EU.
In a notable development in the ongoing contention between Elon Musk and the European Union, Věra Jourová, a high-ranking EU official, has openly criticised Musk. Jourová, who is known for her role in combating online misinformation and hate speech within the EU, has labelled Musk as a ‘promoter of evil’. Her comments were specifically directed at Musk’s management of the social media platform previously known as Twitter and now rebranded as X.
Jourová claims that under Musk’s leadership, X has become a ‘main hub for spreading antisemitism’ and has been ineffective in controlling hate speech. This criticism comes in response to Musk’s overhaul of content moderation rules on the platform, which the EU believes have been loosened since his acquisition of the company in 2022.
The European Commission has issued warnings to X, indicating possible fines for breaches of the EU’s Digital Services Act, which seeks to regulate online platforms. Meanwhile, Musk has accused Brussels of offering a ‘secret deal’ to forego these fines, though EU officials have refuted such claims.
Additionally, X has faced scrutiny for purportedly contravening advertising transparency regulations and allegations regarding the dissemination of content supporting Hamas. However, these claims have not yet been formalised into charges.
As tensions escalate, Musk is reportedly contemplating restricting access to X within the EU, a move that would represent a significant heightening of the ongoing dispute. Such an action could have profound implications for the operation of online platforms under EU governance.
The ongoing clash between Elon Musk and the EU reflects broader concerns over content regulation and platform accountability in the digital age.
