Elon Musk, co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of X Holdings Corp., speaks at the Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on May 6, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
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European Commission warns X Corp owners on Monday Musk CEO Linda Yaccarino said the company May face penalties and restrictions Europe will be in trouble if the spread of illegal content on social media platforms, including incitement to violence and hate speech, is not addressed.
“I write to you in the context of recent events in the UK and the plans to broadcast a live conversation between the US presidential candidate and you on your platform X, which will also be available to EU users,” EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton wrote in the letter This was posted on Monday X.
“We are monitoring the potential risks posed by the dissemination of content within the EU that may incite violence, hatred and racism, as well as at major political or social events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections,” Brittany wrote. .
“I therefore urge you to immediately ensure the effectiveness of your systems and report back to my team on the measures taken,” he added.
Thierry Breton, French Commissioner for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, Industry, Research and Energy.
John Teece
After receiving the letter, Yacarino called it an “unprecedented attempt to extend European laws to political activities in the United States.”
“It also shows a condescending attitude toward European citizens and shows their inability to listen to the conversation and draw their own conclusions,” Yacarino said. write on X.
Musk also serves as CEO Teslaset as host Donald Trump Monday night on X’s streaming platform Spaces.
The Spaces meeting, billed as an impromptu conversation with Musk, will be one of the few campaign events Trump holds this week. The former president is still trying to find his footing in a new race for vice president Kamala Harris.
While investigating potential breaches by X, the commissioner reminded Musk of his due diligence obligations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which requires social networks and streaming platforms to prevent hate speech and other harmful content. spread the law on its platform.
Breton warned Musk that the EU was prepared to “make full use of our toolbox” to protect EU citizens from “serious harm”.
X Corp. reportedly has 300 million users worldwide (a third of which are in the EU), and X is “designated as a very large online platform” with legal obligations to comply with European law, specifically the Digital Services Act, writes Dao Brittany.
Riots in the UK in recent weeks Triggered by false information spread on X and other social media platformsmistakenly identified the perpetrators of attacks on children attending dance lessons in a British town as asylum seekers.
Riot police stop protesters near a burning police car after riots in Southport, England, on July 30, 2024. Riots spread across England and Northern Ireland after a fatal stabbing attack in Southport sparked violent protests amid rumors about the 17-year-old suspect’s identity.
Getty Images | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Since then, Musk A series of inflammatory remarks about the situation in the UK were published on X. At one point he suggested the violence on Britain’s streets could eventually turn into a civil war, writing: “Civil war is inevitable.”
Musk’s comments were condemned by British officials. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last week there was “no justification” for such comments.
Musk also shared an image of a fake headline that appeared to be from The Telegraph website, falsely claiming that the UK was building “internment camps” for rioters in the Falkland Islands.
He has since deleted the image, which was also posted by Ashley Simon, co-leader of the far-right Britain First party.
Even before false information about the stabbing emerged, British officials had criticized Musk. In an interview published by The Times last week, technology minister Peter Kyle said Musk “Not responsible to anyone” And dealing with platforms like his is like negotiating with foreign governments, “simply because of the size and scope they have.
On August 4, 2024, Rotherham, England, riot police drove away anti-immigration protesters outside
Christopher Furlong | Getty Images
The Commission is the executive arm of the European Union, An investigation began last year to assess whether X violated the DSA. The investigation is ongoing.
Breton said the EU “cannot rule out potential spillover effects on the EU from illegal content circulated on X” even within the context of another jurisdiction’s affairs.
The EU cited “changes to recommendation systems, increased monitoring of specific keywords or hashtags, or orders to cease or remedy alleged infringement” as examples of interim measures that could be implemented under the DSA.
The Commission also has the power to impose fines of up to 6% of annual global revenue if companies breach the DSA.
The commission had previously accused X of violating rules on dark patterns, deceptive tactics used by companies to get people to use or buy certain products and services, advertising transparency and access to researcher data.
