Paris (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot urges the EU Commission to use its existing legislation more strongly, referring to Elon Musk.
The French foreign minister said,
“Either the European Commission applies with the greatest firmness the regulations that exist to safeguard our unique space, or it does not, and in that case, it should consider giving the ability to do so back to the member states of the EU, to France.”
How is Musk’s under scrutiny for electoral neutrality?
French foreign minister comments are made amid concerns that Musk is gaining too much influence over European politics. The latest allegations are that he tried to interfere in the forthcoming German elections by broadcasting a live stream with Alice Weidel, the head of the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Musk is to broadcast a live event on 9th January 2025 on his social media site, X, formerly called Twitter. One of the party’s leaders for the Alternative for Germany will participate. Primarily, this will centre on themes such as free speech and ideas of the Alternative for Germany that the country must embrace. That is exactly what the federal elections for Germany are around the corner with, on February 23, 2025.
Will the European Commission take stronger actions against Musk?
Europeans are asking whether Musk’s actions are in accordance with the Digital Services Act, which the Union implemented to ensure transparency and accountability on social media. The European Commission said that even though Musk’s livestream falls within the provisions of the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), it will still be monitored closely for possible electoral interference. A spokesperson was quoted as saying that even though Musk is allowed to express personal opinions, platform owners must not give preferential treatment to specific content.
The European Commission is currently scrutinizing Musk’s platform X over suspected breaches of the DSA, particularly concerning civic discourse and political neutrality. The scrutiny was launched in December 2023 and is part of continuous scrutiny of how social media operates within the framework of the EU.
