The European Commission has given the green light to Elon Musk’s planned live stream with Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany’s far-right party, Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Set to take place ahead of Germany’s snap elections on February 23, the event has sparked concerns regarding potential electoral interference.
Although no specific restrictions in the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) prevent such a broadcast, EU officials have emphasized that it will be carefully analyzed for any possible violations.
The DSA, which aims to regulate digital platforms, doesn’t censor content but requires platforms to avoid giving preferential treatment to certain political views or increasing the visibility of harmful content.
European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier stated that while Musk is free to express his personal political opinions, it is crucial for platform owners to manage the risks associated with civic discourse and electoral integrity.
This scrutiny follows ongoing proceedings initiated by the EU against Musk’s platform X (formerly Twitter) in December 2023, regarding concerns over its role in managing political content and electoral processes.
As the live stream event draws nearer, the EU will continue to assess whether the platform’s actions adhere to regulations designed to protect democratic processes in the region.
