Thierry Breton: The Frenchman who sued the X-ray regulator for non-compliance with the EU Digital Services Act

While the letter from X’s CEO struck a diplomatic tone, Musk himself has been more forthright in his responses to Breton, pushing for the commissioner to list specific violations on the platform publicly. Musk wrote that they take their actions in the open. “No back room deals.”

“Up to you to demonstrate that you walk the talk,” Breton wrote to Musk. “My team remains at your disposal to ensure DSA compliance, which the EU will continue to enforce rigorously.”

The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) is a sweeping rule book for internet giants designed to protect human rights and limit the spread of illegal content online. The 68-year-old has embraced meetings with Big Tech executives as part of that role. In the last year he has been pictured with two tech companies, explaining to them how to follow the new rules. The Frenchman flew to Texas to meet Musk and get a pledge that the platform would comply with the regulation.

A well-sourced source in Brussels who works closely with the Breton campaign says that the politician is eager to keep himself in the press cycle for as long as possible.

We are waiting 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.

War-related Misinformation on X, NBC News and LinkedIn: a Warning to the Social Media in Light of Musk’s Changes

Since Saturday, when Hamas attacked Israel, there have been many fake photos and video clips on social media, making it difficult to sort fact from fiction.

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. But a report from NBC News has shed light on the strain the volunteer-powered system is under, with some community notes taking hours or even days to be approved, and other posts failing to be labeled at all.

The EU’s top official warned the three social media executives that they would be in deep trouble if the spread of false information is not stopped.

In a similar note to Zuckerberg, Breton gave Meta’s chief executive 24 hours to lay out the company’s plan to staunch the tide of war-related misinformation and AI-generated posts carrying fake content manipulated to look real.

The EU has made it clear to Facebook that the regulators are focused on both content and false information in relation to the upcoming European elections in Poland and the Netherlands.

It’s important for you to protect the children and teenagers on your platform from violent, graphic and hostage taking content that’s widely circulating on your platform without appropriate safeguards.

Adding further confusion is Musk’s changes last year to the platform’s verification policies. Now, anyone willing to pay a monthly fee can receive a blue check mark — a badge previously reserved for credible news organizations and notable people. A paid-for “verification” mark boosted the reach of posts and misinformation experts say that has contributed to considerable chaos on the site.

Online Safety in the Light of EU’s Digital Services Law, and Implications for Political Processes on Social Media and Social Media Networks

The swift response comes in the face of the EU’s Digital Services Act, which took effect in August and is a tough online safety law. The law carries stiff fees for tech companies that violate the rules.

Under the law social media platforms have to remove posts inciting violence, feature manipulated media that is seen as propaganda, or be hit with financial penalties that surpass what any U.S. authority has ever imposed.

There is no place on X for groups that are violent or terroristic and we continue to remove accounts in real time, including proactive efforts.

“Our teams are working around the clock to keep our platforms safe, take action on content that violates our policies or local law, and coordinate with third-party fact-checkers in the region to limit the spread of misinformation. “We’ll continue this work as this conflict goes on,” said Meta spokesman Al Tolan.

“I remind you that the DSA requires that the risk of amplification of fake and manipulated images and facts generated with the intention to influence elections is taken extremely seriously in the content of mitigation measures,” Breton wrote to Zuckerberg.