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Social Media

The European Union intensifies its investigation into X (formerly Twitter) 🇪🇺

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The European Commission is stepping up its investigation into X in response to Elon Musk’s recent provocations. Accused of spreading false information and manipulating public debate, the platform is now subject to stricter measures imposed by Brussels.

An investigation that intensifies 📋

The European Commission announced on Friday, January 17, new measures to deepen its investigation into X, launched in December 2023. This decision follows numerous criticisms of the platform, particularly its alleged role in spreading manipulative content in Europe. According to Henna Virkkunen, European Commissioner for Technological Sovereignty, these actions aim to ensure that X complies with the Digital Services Act (DSA). The DSA requires major digital platforms to combat disinformation and illegal content.

As part of this investigation, Brussels has demanded that X provide, by February 15, comprehensive documentation on its recommendation systems. This measure seeks to verify whether the platform’s algorithms are used transparently and in compliance with European standards. Moreover, the Commission has also imposed a « preservation order. » This requires X to retain all internal data related to future algorithm changes until the end of 2025, unless the investigation concludes earlier.

The SEC’s accusations against Elon Musk 🤔

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accuses Elon Musk of failing to declare “in a timely manner” the acquisition of more than 5% of Twitter’s shares in March 2022. This disclosure is a requirement under U.S. stock market regulations. This delay allegedly allowed him to purchase shares at a lower price than their actual value, saving him at least $150 million. In response to these accusations, his lawyer, Alex Spiro, criticized the procedure as baseless, stating that his client “did nothing wrong.”

This isn’t the first time Musk has been under the SEC’s scrutiny. In October 2023, the EU had already attempted to compel him to testify in its investigation into the acquisition of X. Musk ignored multiple summonses, further straining relations with the U.S. financial authority.

Protecting European users 🛡️

With these new measures, the European Commission aims to ensure a safe and democratic digital environment for European citizens. One of the key aspects of this investigation is access to X’s technical interfaces, known as APIs. These will allow authorities to closely examine content moderation practices and the virality of certain posts.

Since his acquisition of Twitter, Elon Musk has repeatedly criticized European digital regulations. He considers the Digital Services Act to be a censorship tool that limits online freedom of expression. However, the European Union remains firm, emphasizing that all platforms must comply with local laws. Examples include the ban on displaying Nazi symbols in Germany or racist content in France.

What risks does X face? 📊

If X fails to comply with the EU’s requirements, the platform could face severe financial penalties, potentially up to 6% of its global revenue. The European Commission now has several tools to closely monitor X and ensure that it adheres to current standards. However, some observers believe Musk might attempt to circumvent these restrictions, prolonging the confrontation with Brussels.

 

Tell us!
Do you think the European Union is right to strengthen its regulation of social media? ❓ Join the discussion in the comments 😊

 

 


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