On Monday, Elon Musk and Donald Trump had a two-hour interview on X, which was delayed due to technical issues, with Musk attributing the delay to DD0S attacks. The interview, which was characterized as “surprisingly dull” and “rambling,” saw Trump criticize President Biden for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and make controversial claims, including that climate change might not be so bad due to potential increases in oceanfront property.
Prior to the interview, the European Commission sent a warning to Musk regarding the amplification of harmful content in the conversation. Thierry Breton, the EU’s internal market commissioner, publicly shared a letter urging Musk to implement measures to prevent the spread of harmful content, referencing X’s previous failure to control misinformation during recent anti-immigration riots in the UK. Musk stated that the interview would be unscripted and without subject limits, raising concerns among EU officials.
Musk-Trump Interview on X Sparks Controversy Amid EU Content Regulation Tensions
However, Breton’s actions sparked controversy within the European Commission itself. It was later revealed that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had not approved Breton’s letter, and the timing and wording of the message had not been coordinated with other commissioners. This created tension within the EU’s governing body and drew public attention to internal divisions.
The letter also ignited strong reactions from X users, with some accusing the EU of interfering in elections and others mocking the EU’s attempts to regulate content on the platform. Elon Musk responded to the controversy with a meme, while X’s CEO, Linda Yaccarino, criticized the letter as patronizing to European citizens, suggesting they could independently form their own conclusions. Trump’s team also attacked the EU, labeling it as anti-democratic and an enemy of free speech.
The EU’s concerns about the platform stem from the recently implemented Digital Services Act (DSA), which aims to curb hate speech and misinformation online. X has already been found in violation of the DSA in a preliminary investigation, and failure to comply could result in heavy fines. The debate over X’s content moderation policies continues, with the potential for further regulatory and legal challenges ahead.
