Guest on the RTS Forum show Monday evening, the main interested party, Thierry Breton, who is also the architect of the Digital Services Act (DSA), i.e. the European regulation aimed at combating the propagation of illicit content online and adopted in October 2022, defends European regulation of social networks in the face of criticism from Elon Musk.
He insists that this regulation aims to protect freedom of expression while limiting abuse linked to algorithms. “If manipulated, these algorithms can create tsunamis of information with serious consequences for people, children and our democracies.” According to him, the DSA is not censorship, but a guarantee of security and accountability in the digital space. “In Europe, we do not tolerate anti-Semitic or racist speech or the apology of terrorism, neither in physical space nor in digital space,” he illustrates.
Regarding the recent provocations of Elon Musk, who described him as a “tyrant of Europe”, Thierry Breton clarifies that he does not consider himself a “bête noire”, but as an architect of an approved democratic framework unanimously by the 27 member states.
If manipulated, these algorithms can create tsunamis of information with serious consequences for people, children and our democracies
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He recalls that Elon Musk, as an entrepreneur, has the right to express his opinions, even if they may shock, as long as he respects European laws, in particular those governing systemic platforms like X. “Elon Musk must therefore guarantee transparency on the way in which its algorithms amplify content and meet the requirements of the law,” he continues.
Asked about the possibility of banning X in Europe, he explains that the law provides clear sanctions for non-compliance, ranging from fines to temporary suspension if violations persist.
Regarding Facebook’s announcement of the end of fact-checking in the United States, he further emphasizes that this type of decision would be unacceptable in Europe, where strict rules apply. For Thierry Breton, boycotting social networks is not a solution: “I am not for deserting, I am for fighting, to say that the law must be respected because it is the law which protects our children, our fellow citizens and our democracies.”
