France calls on the EU to respond harshly to Musk’s political remarks as the bloc is at a loss for words

As the U.S. tech billionaire intensifies his remarks about European politics, Spain’s prime minister chastised Elon Musk on Wednesday and France asked the European Union to use its rules more forcefully to protect itself from outside intrusion.

Musk’s recent statements on his social media platform X, which have criticized elected officials and caused outrage throughout Europe, have left the European Union unsure of how to react.

Concern over Musk, the richest man in the world and a supporter of Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, is especially prevalent in capitals where right-wing populist parties are exerting pressure on the political establishment.

European officials are particularly concerned about Musk’s remarks supporting the anti-immigration, anti-Islamic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which German security authorities have labeled right-wing radicals, ahead of a February legislative election.

The European Commission is under pressure from some European states to take legal action against Musk for allegedly interfering.

“The European Commission should consider returning the authority to enforce the laws protecting our unique space to EU member states,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told France Inter radio.

“The European Commission either applies the laws that exist to protect our unique space with the greatest firmness or it does not.”

Without mentioning Musk by name, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez charged Musk on Wednesday with destroying democracy.

Both the efficacy of the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which governs social media firms’ activities in the EU, and the EU’s readiness to take on Musk head-on and run the risk of upsetting the incoming Trump administration are being put to the test.

It’s unclear if Musk, who will serve as an outside advisor in Trump’s government, is working alone or with Trump’s approval.

Given Trump’s track record of instability during his first term, diplomats said the bloc needed to proceed with caution. They also stressed that since Trump is not yet in office, it is too early to have an open discussion about the issue with him or Musk. 

The date of his inauguration is January 20.

A spokesman for the Commission stated this week that the DSA has previously been a successful tool in addressing the threats posed by the major social media companies and that it was decided politically not to “fuel the debate” by directly replying to Musk’s tweets.

RISKS TO SOCIETY VS. FREEDOMS

Following a deadly car-ramming incident in Germany last month, Musk referred to Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, as a “incompetent fool” who ought to step down. He will utilize his position to speak with Alice Wiedel, the chairwoman of the AfD, on Thursday.

In response, Scholz has called for composure. He said on January 4th, “Don’t feed the troll,” to the German monthly Stern.

This week, French President Emmanuel Macron attacked Musk.
“Ten years ago, who would have believed it if we had been told that the owner of one of the biggest social networks in the world … intervene directly in elections, including in Germany?” he responded.

Although Britain prefers to maintain a “special relationship” with the United States and is not a member of the European Union, Musk has consistently criticized Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his administration, most notably because of a child sex abuse scandal that occurred more than ten years ago.

Musk gave over $200 million (193.82 million euros) during the U.S. election campaign and promoted Trump and the Republican Party on social media.

Although senior EU officials agree that Musk’s remarks on the politics of the region pose a difficulty, they maintain that the DSA is a strong enough tool.

One of the main goals of the DSA is to specifically preserve the right to free speech online. Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, told Reuters that Mr. Musk is allowed to voice his views both online and offline inside the EU as long as he stays within the bounds of the law.

For more than a year, the European Commission has been looking into X’s DSA compliance. According to McGrath, it is the responsibility of platforms like as X to explain how they strike a balance between the right to free expression and the dangers of encouraging hatred or meddling in elections.

“The DSA enforcement team is in close contact with the German independent regulator, as well as the Irish regulator as the country of establishment of X in the EU,” said the commissioner.

On January 24, the DSA board, which is made up of coordinators from the 27 member states, will get a chance to discuss a possible reaction.

One euro is equivalent to $1.0319.