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As Elon Musk uses his global propaganda platform, X, to target various governments across Europe, politicians in those countries are starting to fight back. This week, as Musk continued to promote a far-right political party in Germany, European Union parliamentarians suggested that the EU introduce new regulatory restrictions on X, with one MEP also suggesting that the algorithm of platform recommendation be closed.
Musk has spent the past few weeks engaged in a campaign against various European governments. The most dramatic conflict involved Musk’s war on Keir Starmer in Britainalthough Musk has also spent a significant amount of time promoting a far-right political party in Germany which is said to have ties to neo-nazis. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has been characterized as a far-right political movement that promotes German nationalism, is hostile to immigrants and Islam, and emphasizes a type of European Reaganomics that favors the rich. Musk announced a next interview with the leader of the AfD, Alice Weidel, to be broadcast live on X.
Now, the German newspaper Handelsblatt he got caught of a draft letter written by EU MEPs asking the EU Commission to consider new regulatory action against Musk’s X. The letter states that “the billionaire’s personal involvement in the campaign German federal election, his upcoming key position in the US government and his business.” The power to influence the political agenda in Germany through the control of the algorithm on the X Platform” represents a “systemic risk”. It also calls for “urgent interim measures by the Commission to protect the federal election”. letter was referred to sent to Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s Executive Vice-President for Technical Sovereignty, Security and Democracy.
Handelsblatt reports that the initiative is expected to “find a large majority in the EU Parliament”, which makes sense, given how much Musk has pissed off the Europeans. The outlet goes on to quote Alexandra Geese, a Green party MEP from Germany, who wrote the letter. “The Commission must urgently order immediate measures for X,” Geese told Handelsblatt. He added that disabling X’s recommendation algorithm “will not remove a single piece of content, but (allow) freedom of expression … (to) be restored for everyone.”
Geese’s suggestion makes sense, given Musk’s brazen intrusion into German politics. That said, even if X’s “For You” tab were canceled, it wouldn’t necessarily prevent the platform from algorithmically manipulating what German users see in their feeds. X’s algorithms are notably closed source, so there’s no telling what the company might do to enhance certain types of accounts and content.
Gizmodo has reached out to X for comment.
Musk’s hostile and erratic behavior, inspired a reaction from European politicians, even those who have previously associated with him. This week, French leader Emmanuel Macron appeared to hit out at Musk, saying, in a speech to other French leaders: “Who would have thought, if we had been told that the owner of one of the largest social networks in the world support the new international reactionary movement and intervene directly in the elections?
France appears to have redoubled its support for its European neighbors since then. “France stands in solidarity with its German friends,” Macron’s European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad told Handelsblatt. He added that Musk’s comments require “vigilance” and said that “such a powerful private actor, whatever his nationality or attitude, cannot interfere in the international affairs of a sovereign country in such a direct way” .
