A top EU commissioner criticized billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of X, formerly known as Twitter, for not understanding Europe’s concerns about the spread of misinformation causing hatred and division.
Vera Jourova, the European Commission’s vice-president for values and transparency, expressed her dissatisfaction with X’s content moderation after Musk acquired the platform in 2022.
Jourova emphasized the EU’s caution due to historical lessons on preventing anti-Semitism and highlighted the need for Meta to enhance efforts in combating propaganda on platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
Concerns over disinformation influencing European elections and Russian propaganda targeting populations in Baltic states were raised by Jourova.
She stressed the importance of hiring knowledgeable individuals to tackle illegal foreign interference and regulate messaging apps like Telegram, popular in Eastern Europe.
Jourova underlined the impact of social media on youth mental health and the need for serious research on values and behavior influenced by these platforms.
She urged Musk to understand Europe’s laws on hate speech and incitement to violence, emphasizing the responsibility of tech companies in preventing hatred and racism.
Jourova also expressed concern about children’s well-being on social media and the need to address these issues collectively at various levels.
Telegram assured compliance with EU sanctions and emphasized its role in providing uncensored news to users, while X and Meta were sought for comment.
Source: www.theguardian.com
