The European Union threatened X owner Elon Musk with “legal obligations” prior to his interview with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Musk held a landmark two-hour conversation with the former president on Tuesday, August 12, in what marked Trump’s return to the platform from what he was once permanently banned.
Writing “in the context of recent events” in the United Kingdom – which is no longer a part of the EU – European Commissioner Thierry Breton reminded Musk that the broadcast would be accessible to European citizens. Furthermore, Breton warned of the “obligation to ensure X’s compliance with EU law”.
“This notably means ensuring, on one hand, that freedom of expression and of information, including media freedom and pluralism, are effectively protected and, on the other hand, that all proportionate and effective mitigation measures are put in place regarding the amplification of harmful content in connection with relevant events, including live streaming,” Breton wrote.
“This is important against the background of recent examples of public unrest brought about by the amplification of content that promotes hatred, disorder, incitement to violence, or certain instances of disinformation.”
X CEO Linda Yaccarino described the move as an “attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the U.S.”, adding that it “patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable” of drawing their own conclusions from the discussion.
Social media users were largely in agreement with this sentiment.
Others suggested that the EU was afraid of the possibility of another Trump presidency.
