Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Digital Affairs, has expressed strong criticism towards Elon Musk concerning the proliferation of disinformation and illegal content on the social

media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. Breton issued a 24-hour ultimatum to Musk to respond to these concerns.

In a letter made available to the French news agency AFP, Breton stated, "Following the terrorist attacks carried out by Hamas against Israel, we have indications that your platform is being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation in the EU." He cautioned Musk about possible sanctions.

Breton noted reports received from credible sources, indicating the circulation of potentially illegal content on the platform, even when flagged by relevant authorities. He stressed the need for swift, diligent, and objective action when illegal content notifications are received within the EU. He underlined the importance of complying with the European Digital Services Act, which was enacted in August to create a safer online environment.

The Commissioner reminded Musk of his precise obligations concerning content moderation, emphasizing the necessity for transparency and consistency in enforcing platform policies. In particular, he highlighted the significance of addressing violence and terrorist content that seems to be present on the platform.

Furthermore, Breton urged Musk to take immediate action to ensure the effectiveness of his content moderation systems and promptly communicate to Brussels the crisis measures he intends to implement. Photo by European Parliament from EU, Wikimedia commons.