Space Travel News
INTERNET SPACE
Like Brazil, the European Union also has an X problem
Like Brazil, the European Union also has an X problem
By Raziye Akkoc
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Sept 5, 2024

Elon Musk's woes are hardly limited to Brazil as he now risks possible EU sanctions in the coming months for allegedly breaking new content rules.

Access to X has been suspended in South America's largest country since Saturday after a long-running legal battle over disinformation ended with a judge ordering a shutdown.

But Brazil is not alone in its concerns about X.

Politicians worldwide and digital rights groups have repeatedly raised concerns about Musk's actions since taking over what was then Twitter in late 2022, including sacking many employees tasked with content moderation and maintaining ties with EU regulators.

Musk's "free speech absolutist" attitude has led to clashes with Brussels.

The European Union could decide within months to take action against X, including possible fines, as part of an ongoing probe into whether the platform is breaching a landmark content moderation law, the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Nothing has yet been decided but any fines could be as high as six percent of X's annual worldwide turnover unless the company makes changes in line with EU demands.

But if Musk's reactions are anything to go by, another showdown is on the cards.

When the EU in July accused X of deceptive practices in violation of the DSA, Musk warned: "We look forward to a very public battle in court."

The temperature was raised even further a month later with another war of words on social media between Musk and the EU's top tech enforcer, Thierry Breton.

Breton reminded Musk in a letter of his legal duty to stop "harmful content" from spreading on X hours before an interview with US presidential challenger Donald Trump live on the platform.

Musk responded by mocking Breton and sharing a meme that carried an obscene message.

- EU ban 'very unlikely' -

Despite the bitter barbs, the European Commission, the EU's digital watchdog, insists that dialogue with X is ongoing.

"X continues to cooperate with the commission and respond to questions," the commission's digital spokesman, Thomas Regnier, told AFP.

Experts also agree that a Brazil-like shutdown in the 27-country EU is unlikely, although it has the legal right.

The DSA would allow the bloc to demand a judge in Ireland, where X has its EU headquarters, order a temporary suspension until the infringements cease.

Breton has repeatedly insisted that "Europe will not hesitate to do what is necessary".

But since X has around 106 million EU users, significantly higher than the 22 million in Brazil, the belief is that Musk would not want to risk a similar move in Europe.

"Obviously, we can never exclude it, but it is very unlikely," said Alexandre de Streel of the think tank Centre on Regulation in Europe.

Regardless of what happens next, de Streel said the case would likely end up in the EU courts, calling X "the least cooperative company" with the bloc.

Jan Penfrat of the European Digital Rights advocacy group said a ban was "a very last resort measure" and that X would "probably" not close shop in the EU.

"I would hope that the commission thinks about this very, very hard before going there because this (a ban) would have a tremendously negative effect on the right to freedom of expression and access to information," Penfrat said.

- EU's X-File -

The commission in July accused X of misleading users with its blue checkmarks for certified accounts, insufficient advertising transparency and failing to give researchers access to the platform's data.

That allegation is part of a wider probe into X, launched in December, and regulators are still probing how it tackles the spread of illegal content and information manipulation.

X now has access to the EU's file and can defend itself including by replying to the commission's findings.

The list of governments angry with Musk is growing. He also raised hackles over the summer in the UK during days of rioting sparked by online misinformation that the suspect behind a mass stabbing that killed three girls was a Muslim asylum seeker.

The billionaire, whose personal X account has 196 million users, engaged in disputes with British politicians after sharing inflammatory posts and claiming a "civil war is inevitable" in the country.

Non-EU member Britain will soon be able to implement a similar law to the DSA with enforcement expected to start next year.

aro-raz/del/gv

X

Related Links
Satellite-based Internet technologies

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
INTERNET SPACE
Telegram could face greater EU scrutiny
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Aug 29, 2024
Telegram could face stricter EU digital rules as Brussels probes whether the popular messaging app - whose founder faces criminal charges in France - has more users in the bloc than claimed. The platform was thrust into the spotlight after its chief Pavel Durov was arrested in France on Saturday. He has since been released on bail but cannot leave the country. Durov is accused of failing to curb extremist and illegal content on the increasingly controversial platform, which has over 900 millio ... read more

INTERNET SPACE
INTERNET SPACE
Martian Ice Caps Reveal Insights into Ancient Climate Shifts

Perseverance Kicks off the Crater Rim Campaign

Study identifies key materials for shielding astronauts from Mars radiation

The means for mapping Martian meteorites

INTERNET SPACE
European drill and mini lab to explore lunar South Pole for resources

Researchers advance AI Models for Lunar science

Astrobotic Concludes Peregrine Mission One, Publishes Post-Mission Findings

HKU Geologists Uncover Extensive Intrusive Magmatism at Chang'e-6 Lunar Site

INTERNET SPACE
Juice trajectory reset with historic Lunar-Earth flyby

NASA's Juno Mission Maps Jupiter's Radiation Using Danish Technology

Juice captures striking image of Moon during flyby

Ariel's Carbon Dioxide Indicates Potential Subsurface Ocean on Uranus' Moon

INTERNET SPACE
ALMA observations reveal gravitational instability in planet-forming disk

Inside the 'golden age' of alien hunting at the Green Bank Telescope

SETI launches low-frequency search for extraterrestrial technology in distant galaxies

Locked in a glacier, viruses adapted to survive extreme weather

INTERNET SPACE
Boeing's troubled Starliner spaceship to return to Earth sans crew

UAH TERMINUS student team launches NASA RockSat-X payload

SpaceX launches back-to-back Starlink flights after FAA lifts ban on Falcon fleet

SpaceX cleared to fly Falcon 9 rocket after landing mishap

INTERNET SPACE
China launches Yaogan 43B remote-sensing satellites from Xichang

Shenzhou-18 Crew Tests Fire Alarms and Conducts Medical Procedures in Space

Astronauts on Tiangong Space Station Complete Fire Safety Drill

Shenzhou XVIII Crew Conducts Emergency Drill on Tiangong Space Station

INTERNET SPACE
Hera Asteroid Mission Departs ESA Test Centre for Final Launch Preparations

NASA Advances Work on NEO Surveyor Asteroid-Hunting Spacecraft

NASA's DART impact alters Dimorphos' shape and orbit significantly

Meteor shower characteristics linked to early comet formation conditions

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.