Elon Musk's strong support for the far-right party in Germany was the starting point of tense exchanges between the billionaire and Thierry Breton, the former European Commissioner for Digital Affairs.
The message from the owner of the X platform (“Only the AfD can save Germany”) caused a stir in Europe. “A few weeks before the next elections in Germany, Elon Musk – the world's leading influencer on X and potential member of the future American administration – openly supports the far-right AfD party. Is this not the very definition of foreign interference?” wrote the former commissioner in a message posted on X.
“We must put an end to “double standards” and apply the #DSA in Europe,” he added, referring to the European Union regulation on digital services (“Digital Services Act”), which aims to better enforce European laws by digital platforms.
“Dude, American “foreign interference” is the only reason you don’t speak German or Russian today,” Elon Musk replied on Sunday, in an allusion to the American landing in France during World War II.
Close proximity to the Trump administration
Elon Musk's very close proximity to Donald Trump, who will return to the White House on January 20, raises questions about how the EU will manage the issue of the social network X, suspected of amplifying disinformation.
This network was formally indicted in July for three alleged offenses: deception of users with blue checkmarks supposed to certify the sources of information, insufficient transparency around advertisements, non-compliance with the obligation of access to data from the platform by approved researchers.
For each of them, and for lack of compliance, the Commission could impose a fine on Elon Musk of up to 6% of the annual global turnover of all the companies he controls, enough to reach several billion euros.
