EU Targeting Elon Musk in War on Free Speech

By: Jared Evan

The EU is after the free exchange of ideas and information, and Elon Musk’s Twitter/X is their main target.

The European Union has initiated an investigation into Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, to determine its compliance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), which became effective in August for platforms with over 45 million EU-based users.

This marks the first such probe under the new law. The European Commission’s inquiry focuses on whether X has breached the DSA by not effectively countering illegal content and disinformation, particularly in relation to its “Community Notes” system in the EU.

Elon Musk’s platform has faced criticism for its handling of information, especially during the Israel-Hamas conflict, leading to increased scrutiny.

The EU Commissioner Thierry Breton stated that the platform might have a “deceptive design of user interface” and highlighted concerns about its verification system, Twitter Blue, which allows users to obtain blue checks for a monthly subscription fee.

The investigation centers on whether X’s blue check verification system and fact-checking program, Community Notes, comply with the DSA. X has been accused of potentially breaching the DSA, and the EU Commission will continue to gather evidence through interviews, inspections, and information requests.

Notably, as of February 2024, the DSA will apply to various content-sharing sites, app stores, and search engines, urging them to take additional measures to prevent the dissemination of harmful or inaccurate information.

Critics argue that X’s verification system, previously exclusive to celebrities, politicians, and journalists, has become more accessible through Twitter Blue, raising questions about potential breaches of the DSA. The EU Commission aims to ensure compliance with the new regulations and assess the platform’s approach to online safety.

X’s head of business operations, Joe Benarroch, emphasized the platform’s commitment to complying with the Digital Services Act and collaboration with the regulatory process. He stated that X focuses on creating a safe and inclusive environment while safeguarding freedom of expression.

Additionally, X has faced accusations from Israel’s state prosecutor’s office cyber division of being less cooperative in removing posts deemed “incitement to terrorism” compared to rivals Meta and TikTok.

The Israeli government flagged over 39,000 pieces of content, with X and Telegram reportedly being less cooperative in removing anti-Israel content, according to a report in The Marker. However, the exact number of posts declined for removal by these platforms remains unclear. This is not the real reason for the attack on X and free speech. The agenda is far deeper and is not about simply censoring terrorists, it is about ending the free exchange pf ideas.

In light of these developments, the investigation underscores the tensions between tech platforms and regulatory authorities, with differing perspectives on the balance between freedom of expression and the responsibility to combat illegal content and disinformation.

“The real motive behind this, is ending free speech, this has nothing to do with anything else other than stifling the free exchange of ideas, nothing to do with Israel or blue checks or anything. The EU is furious that Musk allows people to speak freely about topics formally banned like COVID vaccine deaths, and they can’t stomach it, Musk allows readers to correct disinformation, the EU and the radical left do not like when facts are actually checked, as opposed to leftist so called fact checking, they are losing the narrative because of X,“ free speech advocate Jim Kelly told TJV News.