The relationships between Elon Musk et l’Europe have continued to deteriorate since his takeover of Twitter in 2022. The billionaire had notably provoked the ire of European officials by brutally removing the social network's moderation teams and ignoring repeated requests from the European Commission concerning the fight against disinformation. His decision to rename Twitter in ” X » and radically modifying the platform's operating rules had also raised serious concerns in Brussels, where regulators feared a weakening of democratic safeguards.
A diplomatic but firm warning
Jean-Noel BarrotFrench Minister of Foreign Affairs, has just sent a barely veiled warning to the boss of X. In an interview with Le Parisien, he expressed his concern about the growing influence of the billionaire on the American political scene, particularly since the announcement of his probable role in the future administration. Trump. « Let's hope he doesn't inflict on American democracy the treatment he gave Twitter.”he declares, recalling the major upheavals imposed on the social network: massive layoffs, withdrawal from the stock market and radical transformation of governance.
A standoff that goes beyond social networks
The intervention of the head of French diplomacy reveals the growing tensions between European democracies and American technological giants. The minister bluntly states that France refuses to see “ public debate relocated to deregulated social networks in the hands of particular interests“. This firm stance could have repercussions on transatlantic relations, especially as Musk previously participated in a telephone conversation between Donald Trump et Volodymyr Zelenskydemonstrating its growing influence on American foreign policy.
The presence ofElon Musk in the surroundings of Donald Trump raises crucial questions about the future of Franco-American relations and the control of social networks. Jean-Noel Barrot nevertheless remains optimistic on certain points, notably concerning American support for l’Ukraine. According to him, Donald Trumpdespite his rhetoric, could not accept “ the largest territorial annexation in history for 75 years” without risking “very serious consequences » for Europe and the world. The minister calls for a return to democratic fundamentals, where power and responsibility rest with citizens, rather than the private interests of tech giants.
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