Elon Musk caved to the European Union’s censorship demands, according to The National Pulse. France, which spearheads the union, threatened to ban Twitter from the EU if it does not comply with regulations against “disinformation.” The threats came as soon as it was reported that Musk was taking over the platform.
When bought the company, he exposed the collusion between the U.S. government and Twitter to censor information that was not deemed appropriate, such as the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop story. But other governments around the world allegedly engaged in censorious practices as well.
Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s government minister heading “digital transition” repeated the popular claim that “Disinformation is one of the gravest threats weighing on our democracies.”
The Digital Services Act (DSA) reportedly binds EU countries to these practices on disinformation and hate speech.
But Musk recently withdrew Twitter from the EU’s voluntary “Code of Practice on Disinformation,” which is allegedly for the protection of European citizens. It states that users who spread disinformation will be demonetized, which implies that Twitter will be compliant in cutting off advertising revenue from creators who are seen as “purveyors of disinformation” by the European Union. The code also states that “fact-checking coverage” will be extended.
Nevertheless, the EU is taunting the billionaire.
“You can run but you can’t hide,” Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted at Musk, adding that the code is going to become law in August when the DSA is enacted. Breton also vowed the hold Musk accountable to the rules. When the commissioner sent Twitter an email about the so-called voluntary codes, Twitter reportedly replied with the poop emoji.
The European Convention on Human Rights suggests that citizens may have “freedom of thought” and “freedom of expression,” but caveats the right by saying that such things may be taken away “in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety…”
