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As Elon Musk uses his global platform, X, to connect with different governments across Europe, politicians in these countries are starting to fight. This week, as Musk continues to boost Germany’s far-right political party, European Union MEPs called for the EU to impose new restrictions on the X, with one MEP calling for the platform’s proposal to be blocked.
Musk has spent the past few weeks campaigning against various European governments. The fiercest conflict has ever happened Musk’s battle over Keir Starmer in Britainalthough Musk also had a lot of time promoting a right-wing political party in Germany which is said to have associated with neo-Nazis. The Alternative for Germany Party (AfD) has been identified as a right-wing political group that promotes German nationalism, hates Islam, and emphasizes a European type of Reaganomics that favors the rich. Musk announced upcoming discussions and the leader of the AfD, Alice Weidel, to be shown on X.
Now, a German newspaper called Handelsblatt you have caught a letter written by EU parliamentarians asking the EU Commission to consider new ways to manage Musk’s X. The letter said that the billionaire “is participating in the federal election campaign in Germany, his upcoming position in the US government and his position. political influence in Germany through the control of the algorithm on Platform X” represents a “systemic threat.” It also calls for “quick action by the Commission to protect the federal election.” A letter it was said sent to Henna Virkkunen, EU Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.
Handelsblatt reported that the project is expected to “find a majority in the EU Parliament,” which makes sense, given how much Musk has angered Europeans. The site goes on to quote Alexandra Geese, an MEP from the German Greens party, who wrote the letter. “The Commission should urgently order X measures,” Geese told Handelsblatt. He added that shutting down X’s views “wouldn’t take away anything, but (would) allow free speech… (to) be restored to everyone.”
Geese’s idea makes sense, because Musk has been involved in German politics. That said, even if X’s “For You” page were changed, it wouldn’t prevent the platform from cleverly manipulating what German users see in their feeds. X’s algorithms are very closed, so there is nothing the company can do to promote certain types of accounts and content.
Gizmodo has contacted X for comment.
Musk’s hostile, unrepentant attitude, urged to return from European politicians—even those who previously supported him. This week, the French leader Emmanuel Macron seems to shake Musk, saying, speaking to other French leaders: “Who would have thought, if we were told that the owner of one of the biggest places in the world would support the New International reactionary movement and intervene directly in the elections?
France appears to have increased its support for its European neighbors since then. “France is contacting its German friends,” Macron’s Minister for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, told Handelsblatt. He added that Musk’s comments require “caution” and that “an activist of such power, regardless of his type or ideology will not affect the world affairs in a direct way.”
