The European Union’s digital commissioner, Thierry Breton, addressed an open letter to Elon Musk on Monday ahead of Musk’s upcoming interview with former U.S. President Donald Trump, set to be livestreamed on X. Breton emphasized the EU’s regulations on combating hate speech, reminding Musk of his responsibility to prevent the “amplification of harmful content.”
The reminder follows X’s charges in July for failing to adhere to EU social media laws, risking multimillion-euro fines. Breton highlighted the potential impact on EU users, stating, “As the relevant content is accessible to EU users and being amplified in our jurisdiction, we cannot exclude potential spillovers in the EU.” He warned that if harmful content is identified, the EU could use its “full toolbox” to protect its citizens, potentially implementing interim measures.
Trump was initially suspended from X, formerly known as Twitter, following the January 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol due to concerns over inciting violence. Musk, who acquired X in 2022, reinstated Trump’s account, which remained mostly inactive until recently. Trump has since posted campaign ads and material promoting the interview with Musk, which prompted Breton’s response. Breton shared his letter on X, underlining the theme “With great audience comes greater responsibility #DSA.”