X Must Comply with EU’s Laws, Says Digital Chief
Elon Musk, the owner of the social network X, has been warned by the EU’s digital chief, Věra Jourová, that he must abide by European Union laws and take necessary actions against illegal content on his platform if he wants to continue conducting business in the region. The comment came after an EU investigation into how X handles illicit content and disinformation related to Hamas’ attack on Israel. Musk, who last week dismissed rumors that he was considering withdrawing X from Europe to evade new digital platform regulations, has been told that if he chooses to stay, he must comply with the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
The DSA mandates swift removal of content and a commitment from the network to limit disinformation and cyber violence. X, which is used by over 101 million Europeans, was given until last week to clarify to the EU enforcement team how it has been addressing terrorist propaganda and disinformation linked to the crisis. The EU officials have been closely monitoring how well X adheres to these DSA requirements since the attack by Hamas on Israel.
Johannes Bahrke, a Commission spokesperson, confirmed that they are in touch with X but declined to provide further details due to the sensitivity of the subject. Despite her discomfort with the increasing spread of “hatred, violence, and crime” on the platform, Jourová stated she would maintain her X account. She also mentioned that the Commission hasn’t altered its social media use policy and that X remains their communication tool of choice.
Source: Stay in EU, comply with EU law: EU’s digital chief warns X’s Musk – POLITICO
