The European Union (EU) has issued a threat to Elon Musk over Twitter’s failure to comply with demands to censor so-called “disinformation” on the platform.
The threat was made by the European Union’s Internal Markets Commissioner, Thierry Breton.
Breton confirmed that Twitter had ditched the EU’s code of practice on “fighting disinformation.”
In a post on Twitter, Breton warned that the platform cannot “hide” from obligations to censor content.
“You can run but you can’t hide,” Breton warned in a tweet.
“Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be a legal obligation under DSA as of August 25.
“Our teams will be ready for enforcement,” Breton threatened.
Twitter leaves EU voluntary Code of Practice against disinformation.
But obligations remain. You can run but you can’t hide.
Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be legal obligation under #DSA as of August 25.
Our teams will be ready for enforcement.
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) May 26, 2023
Breton was referring to the censorship law, the controversial Digital Services Act (DSA).
The DSA is a new set of rules for social media platforms operating in Europe.
The rules require Big Tech companies to actively police and censor users’ speech or risk fines of up to 6% of global turnover.
The current code of practice is voluntary, however.
Until the DSA comes into practice, social media companies have obligations for social media to stop the monetization of “disinformation,” monitor political advertising, and allow third parties to access their algorithms.
In February, Twitter did not submit a report on its implementation of the code.
Despite it currently being voluntary, the EU was outraged.
Twitter was the only major platform to fail to submit the report.
But unlike the code of practice, the DSA is legally binding.
Large platforms including Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, will have to comply with it if they want to operate in Europe.
In previous tweets, Breton has indicated that he will hold Twitter owner Elon Musk to account for the platform’s failures to comply with the content rules in the EU.
