EU Lawmakers Demand Stricter Rules for Twitter Over European Law Violations
A formal inquiry is set to be sent to the European Commission on Friday, seeking stricter regulations for the American social media platform Twitter, following allegations of violations of European laws. The initiative is expected to gain a broad majority in the European Parliament.
Alexandra Geese, a Green Party MEP, told the Handelsblatt that Brussels must take immediate action against Twitter, including the shutdown of its recommendation mechanisms on the platform. According to Geese, this would not result in the deletion of any content, but rather restore the freedom of speech for all.
The Green Party MEP receives support from the Social Democratic Party, with MEP Katarina Barley calling for the EU to investigate what is happening on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram in relation to the German federal election. Barley believes that Elon Musk, as the owner of Twitter, aims to weaken liberal democracy, which is not allowed.
Critics also argue that Musk’s algorithmic control is influencing the election campaign in the German Bundestag and the political agenda in Germany, posing a systematic risk to the public discourse and the upcoming federal election.
Notably, Musk’s engagement with the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has raised concerns. Shortly before Christmas, he wrote on Twitter that only the AfD can save Germany, and he later engaged in a live discussion with the AfD’s top candidate, Alice Weidel. The Bundestag administration has launched an investigation to determine if Musk’s support for the AfD constitutes an illegal political donation.
Musk regularly expresses opinions on various parties and politicians in the German election campaign, labeling Economy Minister Robert Habeck as “a fool” and Chancellor Olaf Scholz as “incompetent.”
French President Emmanuel Macron also criticized Musk in a speech to foreign ambassadors in Paris, stating that Musk is directly intervening in elections in other countries, including Germany.
“Who would have thought 10 years ago that the owner of one of the world’s largest social networks would support a new reactionary international movement that directly interferes in elections, including in Germany?” Macron said.
The dispute between Musk and the EU escalated in the summer, with EU Commissioner Thierry Breton calling on Musk to comply with EU rules. Musk responded with a derogatory post, saying “and literally, go fk yourself!