The European Union (EU) has expressed concern over the potential for “harmful content” during Elon Musk’s upcoming interview with former U.S. President Donald Trump on the social media platform X. The warning comes from Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for the Internal Market, who reminded Musk that X falls under the jurisdiction of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA). This act aims to regulate illegal content and misinformation on major social media platforms.
In a letter to Musk, Breton emphasized the importance of curbing “the amplification of harmful content in connection with relevant events, including livestreaming.” He highlighted that any adverse effects of illegal content on X within the EU could be considered during ongoing legal proceedings and the overall evaluation of X’s compliance with EU law.
Responding to the letter, X CEO Linda Yaccarino described it as an “unprecedented attempt to stretch a law intended to apply in Europe to political activities in the US.” Musk, on the other hand, responded with a humorous meme from the movie “Tropic Thunder.” A spokesperson for the Trump campaign echoed this sentiment, stating, “Only in Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ America can an un-Democratic foreign organization feel emboldened enough to tell this country what to do.”
The warning was issued ahead of Musk’s interview with Trump, which Musk has described as an “unscripted live conversation” with no restrictions on topics. The conversation, originally scheduled for X Spaces, was delayed due to an apparent DDOS attack on the platform, according to Musk. Despite this, Musk has stated that the interview will go forward with a smaller number of live listeners.
This interview marks Trump’s first appearance on X (formerly Twitter) since 2021. The collaboration between Musk and Trump, previously on opposing sides, has generated questions about their motives and potential impact on industries like electric vehicles. Notably, Trump has previously expressed support for electric cars following Musk’s endorsement. The upcoming interview could potentially influence public opinion and policy direction in various sectors.
