European Commission has distanced itself from a threatening letter to Elon Musk sent by internal market commissioner Thierry Breton, which demanded that the world's richest man censor his interview with former president Donald Trump on X, Monday.
The Commission on Tuesday, denied that Breton had approval from its president Ursula von der Leyen to send the letter. “The timing and the wording of the letter were neither co-ordinated or agreed with the president nor with the [commissioners],” it said.
“Thierry has his own mind and way of working and thinking,” according to unnamed EU official. Breton reportedly said that the letter had been planned for some time and that the interview, hailed by Musk as “unprecedented," seemed an appropriate “trigger point” for sending the letter. The French commissioner apparently empowered to oversee enforcement of the Digital Services Act(DSA) and can communicate independently with companies.
The commission has been investigating X, since last year, over bogus claims of non-compliance with the DSA which passed in 2022 -- an investigation criticized by legal experts and activists, as a witch hunt against Musk for the platform's moderation policy which allows for more free speech.
EU Demands Elon Musk Censor Trump Interview On X, In Threatening Letter By Thierry Breton To The Social Media Platform Owner
The European Commission's internal markets 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, which he shared on X, 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!"
In a statement by spokesman Steven Cheung, Trump campaign writes: "The European Union should mind their own business instead of trying to meddle in the U.S. Presidential election. Only in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ America can an un-Democratic foreign organization feel emboldened enough to tell this country what to do. They know that a President Trump victory means America will no longer be ripped off because he will smartly utilize tariffs and renegotiated trade deals that puts America First. Let us be very clear: the European Union is an enemy of free speech and has no authority of any kind to dictate how we campaign."
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 Republicans on the platform. "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."
