European People’s Party (EVP) leader in the European Parliament, Manfred Weber, has called on the European Commission to take a firm stance in response to potential violations by the platform X ahead of the German federal election.
“We have in the EU the DSA law, a sharp sword, and now it is time for the EU Commission to consistently apply the law” Weber told the ‘Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland’. “We are not the Wild West, where everything is allowed, and we are not the Chinese state, which oversees everything. Whoever wants to earn money in Europe must adhere to European law.”
Weber sharply criticized Elon Musk’s platform for amplifying extreme right-wing positions. “Musk can certainly express his opinion, but he must not use his platform X to operate an AfD-friendly algorithm, to amplify hate and incite, or to spread lies – that is not permissible under European law, and here, Europe must defend its fundamental principles” Weber said.
Weber also questioned Musk’s popularity as a trendsetter for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the German election campaign, citing the livestream with AfD leader Alice Weidel. “Rather, it shows the true face of the AfD, which prioritizes chaos but not the strengthening of Germany’s sovereignty” the CSU politician said.