The European Union is prepared to take drastic action against Elon Musk's social media platform, X, if it fails to comply with the EU's stringent digital regulations. Sandro Gozi, a prominent member of the European Parliament and part of Emmanuel Macron's Ensemble coalition, has made it clear that the platform must adhere to the Digital Services Act (DSA), specifically its rules on hate speech and disinformation, or face severe consequences.
Speaking to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica on August 19, Gozi emphasized the EU's firm stance, stating that if X does not comply with the DSA's guidelines, the European Commission will be forced to request service providers across the continent to block the platform. In the most extreme scenario, the platform could be entirely dismantled within the EU.
Gozi justified the necessity of strict content moderation, arguing that such measures are essential to curb the rise of political violence and the far-right movement. "Online violence often translates into real-world violence," Gozi explained. "The far-right hides its aggression behind the guise of free speech. Platforms must take responsibility and moderate hateful content."
These comments follow a recent open letter from EU Commissioner for Internal Market Thierry Breton, who urged Musk to censor a recent online exchange he had with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Breton warned of potential penalties under the DSA if Musk fails to comply.
The EU's stance has sparked controversy, with U.S. politicians accusing the bloc of interfering in American politics. The House Judiciary Committee recently called on Breton to refrain from what they perceive as undue influence over U.S. matters.
The European Union is reacting to the growing financial crisis, the growing recession and the criticism of centralism with increasingly repressive means. This is a path that can only lead to the abyss and will massively damage European society. The fight for freedom of expression is underway!