France is urging the European Union to take a stronger stance against Elon Musk’s comments on social media, which have been critical of European leaders and politicians. Musk has endorsed far-right parties in Germany and called German Chancellor Olaf Scholz an “incompetent fool.” The EU is grappling with how to respond to Musk’s comments, which some see as a threat to democracy.
The issue is testing the EU’s willingness to confront Musk head-on, given his ties to Donald Trump, who will be taking office soon. EU officials are treading carefully, not wanting to antagonize the incoming administration. However, they acknowledge that the bloc needs to take action to protect its values and interests.
European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection Michael McGrath said that the Digital Services Act (DSA) is a robust enough instrument to combat Musk’s comments. The DSA regulates social media platforms’ operations in the EU and protects freedom of expression online. However, some EU officials are concerned that the commission has not been using its laws effectively enough to address Musk’s behavior.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called on the EU to apply the laws with greater firmness to protect European interests. The issue is also being watched closely in Spain, where Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez accused Musk of undermining democracy. Britain is taking a different approach, tolerating Musk’s criticism of Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
As the EU debates how to respond to Musk’s comments, it remains to be seen whether the incoming Trump administration will support or condemn the billionaire’s actions. One thing is certain: the EU needs to take a firm stance to protect its values and interests in the face of external interference.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/frances-foreign-minister-urges-tougher-eu-action-musk-says-laws-must-be-enforced-2025-01-08