The European Union’s digital commissioner, Thierry Breton, sent a letter to Elon Musk on Monday, demanding that the X owner censor so-called “harmful content” from spreading on the social media platform ahead of his live interview with former United States president and 2024 presidential elections candidate Donald Trump.
Musk is interviewing Trump Monday night local time live on X. The former president has apparently returned to posting on the platform since he was banned from then Twitter and unbanned following the company's acquisition by Musk.
Breton’s letter referenced the recent UK riots following the Southport killings, which authorities have falsely linked to social media misinformation.
The commissioner says the EU will watch for “spillovers” that violate the Digital Services Act, such as “content that may incite violence, hate and racism in conjunction with major political -- or societal -- events around the world, including debates and interviews in the context of elections.”
The letter drew swift global condemnations with critics accusing the European Commission of using fascist and authoritarian tactics to censor speech and quell dissent.
"This is an unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US," CEO Linda Yaccarino wrote responding to Breton's post on X. "It also patronizes European citizens, suggesting they are incapable of listening to a conversation and drawing their own conclusions."
On his part Musk responded with a meme writing, "To be honest, I really wanted to respond with this Tropic Thunder meme, but I would NEVER do something so rude & irresponsible!"
The meme reads: TAKE A BIG STEP BACK, AND LITERALLYT, FUCK YOUR OWN FACE!"
Meanwhile Trump has been busy Monday with several politically-charged posts on X criticizing the vice president and his opponent in the 2024 presidential elections, Kamala Harris.
"Are you better off now than you were when I was president?" Trump wrote in his first post Monday on X. "Our economy is shattered. Our border has been erased. We're a nation in decline. Make the American Dream AFFORDABLE again. Make America SAFE again. Make America GREAT Again!"
Musk endorsed Trump in the 2024 elections in the aftermath of a failed assassination attempt on the former president at a rally in Pennsylvania in July.
X shared some data Monday showing that there are more Democrats than Republicanson X."There's a place for everyone in the global town square," @XData wrote on X.
Yaccarino wrote: "Before you tune in tonight to the Spaces with @elonmusk and @realdonaldtrump, here's some data about who is on the X platform in the U.S.: 37 million Democrats; 32 million Republicans; 34 million swing voters. The conversation is happening on X. Set your alarm – 8PM ET."