The European Union has promised to accelerate its investigation into the social platform X, owned by Elon Musk, over suspected violations of the “Digital Services Act” (DSA), which regulates content moderation and the fight against illegal and harmful content online, Bloomberg reports.
EU Digital Commissioner Henna Virkkunen and Justice Chief Michael McGrath confirmed in a letter to European lawmakers that the European Commission intends to reach conclusions in this case “within legal deadlines” as soon as possible. This letter, obtained by Bloomberg, highlights the growing scrutiny from the European Commission toward X, which has become a platform for Musk’s right-wing political statements.
The investigation into X began in 2023, shortly after the DSA came into effect. Attention to the platform has intensified as Musk, the owner of X, has become an influential figure in global politics, using his platform to support right-wing candidates and movements.
Currently, the EU is investigating whether X’s algorithms are being used to promote specific political figures, such as Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD). Musk has openly supported Weidel and plans to hold a live stream with her on X. The Commission stated it will examine whether such algorithmic promotion aligns with the platform neutrality and content moderation requirements set by the DSA.
Violations of the DSA could result in fines of up to 6% of X’s global annual revenue, which would be a significant blow to one of the world’s largest social platforms.
The Commission’s increased scrutiny of X was triggered by an official complaint from German lawmakers Andreas Schwab and Daniel Caspary, who expressed concerns about Musk’s influence on the upcoming European elections. Musk’s use of X to promote or criticize political candidates has drawn criticism from various political camps, with some arguing that his platform has a disproportionate impact on democratic processes.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot urged the European Commission to take stronger action. “Either the European Commission enforces the laws we created to protect the public sphere with the utmost rigor, or it does not, in which case it should delegate these powers to EU member states,” Barrot said in an interview with France Inter.
Representatives of X and the European Commission declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
