Tech mogul Elon Musk is set to host US presidential hopeful Donald Trump on his platform X for a live-streamed conversation on Monday. However, the EU’s internal market chief Thierry Breton has urged Musk to comply with legal obligations under the EU’s digital rulebook before the event takes place.
Breton emphasized that Musk has a “legal obligation” to ensure that effective measures are in place to mitigate the amplification of harmful content during live streaming events. Failure to do so could pose risks to civic discourse and public security.
The conversation between Musk and Trump is scheduled to be streamed live from Trump’s X channel at 8:00 ET on Monday. Trump’s return to the platform came after Musk acquired it in 2022, following the former president’s ban for inciting the 2021 Capitol attacks.
Since Musk’s takeover of X, tensions have risen between him and the EU. The EU’s Digital Services Act classifies X as a ‘very large’ online platform, requiring compliance with stringent regulations. Musk announced in July that he was suing the European Commission after being accused of breaching the DSA.
Breton’s recent correspondence with Musk highlights concerns about X’s role in spreading content that could incite violence or public disorder. Breton specifically mentioned X’s involvement in recent unrest in the UK and emphasized the need for moderation of all user content on the platform.
With an estimated 300 million users worldwide, X, including its 190 million followers, has a significant presence in the EU. The EU executive will be vigilant in monitoring any potential breaches of the DSA to protect citizens from harm.
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