Just over a month after stepping down from his position, the EU’s former Internal Market Commissioner has defended the bloc’s regulation of online platforms, including X, stating that it “saves democracy.”
In an interview on October 20, Thierry Breton, the former European Commission’s self-proclaimed “digital enforcer,” emphasised that those investigating Big Tech in the EU under the Digital Services Act (DSA) are “protecting European interests by safeguarding our democracy, citizens, and even our children.”
Addressing Musk’s influence on X and Elon Musk’s support of Donald Trump for the upcoming US elections, Breton expressed relief that Musk’s platform is subject to EU regulation.
“Musk has around 115 million followers on X, but let me remind you that X is now regulated by Europe, by us. This includes situations where messages aren’t sent from Europe but still have amplified effects within Europe,” he said.
In the summer of 2024, in an official letter, Breton criticised Musk’s live interview with Republican front-runner Donald Trump on X.
With great audience comes greater responsibility #DSA
As there is a risk of amplification of potentially harmful content in 🇪🇺 in connection with events with major audience around the world, I sent this letter to @elonmusk
📧⤵️ pic.twitter.com/P1IgxdPLzn
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) August 12, 2024
In his interview, Thierry Breton also condemned Musk’s recent $1 million giveaway proposal to Trump supporters ahead of the US elections, labelling the move as anti-democratic.
“We are in the last fourteen days of the campaign, so all sorts of things will happen. This isn’t something we’re accustomed to in Europe—and that is not democracy,” he said.
While no longer in office, Breton hinted that regulatory investigations into Musk’s activities will persevere: “I’m no longer the regulator, but I’m confident the investigations continue.”
The European Union has faced growing backlash, with many critics claiming the bloc’s attempt to censor and suppress free speech on social media.
The European Union is offering to make “illegal secret deals” with big tech companies to enable the censorship of social media, X boss Elon Musk has claimed. https://t.co/gm422vL2hU
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 12, 2024
Thierry Breton is frequently at the heart of such criticism, with the former EU Commissioner’s pro-regulatory crackdown approach earning him a bad reputation among tech lobbyists.
“With regards to technology and regulation, no individual since the time of the Soviet Union has done more to damage Europe’s economy”, Connor Allen told Brussels Signal. Allen is a lobbyist for a large multinational tech company.
Breton’s criticism of Musk’s handling of X has sparked criticism from many within the sector, who see Musk as a visionary and Breton as an out-of-touch bureaucrat.
“I’m not sure on what basis Thierry Breton thinks he is qualified to criticise Elon Musk,” Allen said.
“The best thing Europe can do is to let Breton’s failed opinions lie. We need to start listening a little bit more to winners – people like Musk delivering great leaps forward in technology, or the people winning consensus for their ideas in elections, and we need to be listening less to unelected bureaucrats,” he added.
