In a recent interview, Justice and Transportation Minister Volker Wissing accused Elon Musk of using his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) to further his own economic interests. Wissing, responsible for digital affairs, told the Berlin-based newspaper Tagesspiegel that Musk is likely seeking a commercial benefit from his backing of extreme forces in Germany, and that this should raise red flags for voters.
“If Elon Musk expects a commercial benefit for himself through the strengthening of extreme forces, it is not to be assumed that this serves the economic interests of the German people” Wissing said. “This should perhaps wake up one or the other.”
Furthermore, Wissing called on the European Commission to prevent manipulation of the algorithm on Musk’s social media platform X for political propaganda. He pointed out that a regulation in Europe, which bans the manipulation of algorithms, has been put in place. The European Commission is set to monitor the implementation of these rules for large-scale platforms. Wissing mentioned that he had already discussed the matter with the European Commission’s Vice President Henna Virkkunen in December, stating that she is determined to enforce these regulations, which he strongly supports.