The European Union’s executive branch has been criticized for its slow response to enforcing a major law regulating social media companies, amid growing concerns about Elon Musk’s involvement in European politics.
Musk, the owner of X and world’s richest man, is set to host a live stream conversation with the leader of far-right Alternative for Deutschland, Alice Weidel, on Thursday. This move has raised concerns about the potential impact on Germany’s upcoming elections.
MEPs have urged the European Commission to examine Musk’s “interference” in European elections, citing the law’s provisions on transparency and disinformation. Damian Boeselager, an MEP and candidate for the German parliament, believes X’s algorithm promotes Musk’s tweets illegally under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The DSA, which came into force in 2022, aims to curb large companies’ disregard for regulations. Companies found guilty can face fines of up to 6% of their global turnover or be banned from operating in the EU.
Critics argue that X has failed to meet the law’s transparency requirements and has given Musk an undue advantage by promoting his tweets. The European Commission has yet to conclude its investigation into X’s compliance with the DSA, which began in December 2023.
The debate highlights concerns about disinformation and democracy. Arba Kokalari, a Swedish lawmaker involved in drafting the DSA, believes the Commission is not doing enough to enforce the law. Christel Schaldemose, a Social Democrat MEP, calls for stronger enforcement of the DSA to protect against a “systemic risk against democracy”.
Musk’s support for the AfD has been described as foreign interference by former EU commissioner Thierry Breton. The Commission said it will carefully analyze the Weidel-Musk conversation but emphasized that its position must be well-founded.
X did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Spain, the UK, France, and Germany have all criticized Musk’s hostile tweets about European politics and society, with Spain’s prime minister calling him part of an “international reactionary movement”.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/08/eu-commission-urged-to-act-elon-musk-interference-elections