Thierry Breton confronts the EU in the wake of the European Parliament’s new rules on online privacy issues: The Bluesky and Meta platforms have no backroom
There is a whole idea of the EU’s new internet rules that makes the world’s most powerful platforms more like a place that respects rules. But as the bloc tries to enforce its rules on the unruly owner of X, critics say Brussels is becoming more like Elon Musk, rather than the other way around.
The pair then engaged in a brief but public exchange. Musk was told to give more details publicly by Breton after he gave him a 24 hour deadline. The EU commissioner said his people would be in touch. “No backroom deals,” the billionaire shot back. Bluesky is a social media platform that was used to invite his followers to join him.
The back-and-forth between X and the European Union comes as the EU implements the DSA, which imposes obligations on large online platforms to remove illegal content and mitigate risks to public security more generally. In addition to X, Breton has also written to Meta to remind it of its obligations under the DSA.
“Breton is a politician, eager to keep himself in the press cycle for as long as possible in the run-up to the elections,” says a well-placed source in Brussels, who asks to be anonymous because they work closely with Breton’s team.
We now wait for the EU’s response. Thierry Breton had previously warned X that non-compliance with the DSA could result in an investigation and possible fines.
X and the Israel-Hamas War: The Attacks on X, Disinformation, and Community Notes on the News Feed
There have been widespread reports of misinformation and disinformation spreading on X surrounding the Israel-Hamas war. The Guardian has collated numerous examples of such content, some with millions of views, that includes videos and images being shared out of context. Separately, researchers claim to have discovered a propaganda network of 67 accounts posting false and inflammatory content about the war.
Yaccarino’s letter also emphasizes how X has been using Community Notes in an attempt to combat misinformation on its platform, noting that over 700 unique notes are being shown on the platform relating to the attacks. Some of the posts are failing to be labeled at all, and community notes taking hours to be approved, according to a report from NBC News.