The relations of the European Commission with the major Internet platforms they have never been the best in the world.
Claims, lawsuits and violations of European regulations regarding dominant market positions or privacy of personal data have provoked clashes.
But what comes with the new Twitter of the eccentric billionaire Elon Musk can overcome everything. For now, the European Executive has focused on the radar and is closely monitoring what is happening with the San Francisco giant.
European regulations have just been passed so that users of social networks and platforms such as Twitter have a safer online space and Brussels is starting to worry the changes that Musk seems to want to apply On Twitter.
Will there be moderation? Can something be posted? Child pornography? An apology for terrorism? Holocaust denial?
The European Commissioner for the Internal Market, the French Thierry Breton, tried to put the bandage on the wound, warning Musk: “In Europe the bird will fly according to European rules”.
The commissioner received no response from the American. Breton was referring to the new Digital Services Legislation (DSA), which has been in force since the beginning of November after finally being passed in April.
European Commissioner for Competition and EU Vice-President Margrete Vestager warned: “Dear Twitter users, your freedom of expression it is your basic right. Same with your online security.”
What worries the European Commission?
Beyond a collapse of the social network, which, like many other organizations or companies in the world, would mean a disaster in their way of communicating, Brussels has put the magnifying glass on Musk’s announcement on Blue Twitterthe Paid Twitter which started and was suspended a few days later when verified accounts impersonating people or companies started appearing.
Musk then said so “Verified Blue” It will go live on Nov. 29 and explain to users who have already verified accounts that “any name change would mean losing the blue mark until the name is verified by Twitter.”
Even in Brussels it is worrying the loss of employees in key positions on Twitter and the massive resignations of the last few days.
Some are people with positions that the European Commission is watching closely because they control very sensitive matters, such as data protection (Damien Kieran). These people were those who managed the company’s relations with the authorities such as the European Commission itself and those who had to adapt the company to the new European standards.
The European Commission will have a first test of the ability to influence and the effectiveness of these new rules as soon as Musk’s Twitter takes its feet off the plate.
Fines
Fines for non-compliance if you do not remove illegal content could reach the 6% of the company’s worldwide turnover and in case of repeated violations it could also be suspended in the 27 EU member countries. If you don’t respect the data protection rules a maximum fine of 4% of world revenues could be added.
What little Brussels knows about Musk’s Twitter intentions has been learned by Irish regulators, with which the company had a meeting shortly after being acquired by the owner also of the electric car manufacturer Tesla. Twitter’s European headquarters are in Ireland.
Before acting, the European Executive tries to get a clear idea of what is happening on Twitter. A European official said this Friday, half-jokingly, half-seriously: “Let it burst once and for all one less problem”.
There is not even anyone to ask. Stephen Turner, Twitter’s main representative in Brussels, left the place when Musk took over the company.
Brussels, especially for clarion
Source: Clarin
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.