Belgian PM says EU must act against 'lies and manipulation' on X
Alexander De Croo, Belgium's outgoing prime minister, is not happy with the way billionaire Elon Musk and his social media platform X are interfering with European democracies and wants the EU to act, he told a parliamentary session on Thursday.
De Croo was questioned in the House of Representatives about recent comments made by Musk. The US billionaire uses social media to promote his political preferences, such as urging Germans to vote for the far-right AfD.
Europe is under constant attack, De Croo said on Thursday. Russia has been interfering in Western democracies for some time, but now "rich and powerful people" are joining in, he said.
This is something that Belgium and Europe should not tolerate, he said. The free organisation of elections is the basis of our political and social system. It must be done without interference from countries or powerful people."
Fake news
Musk's statements are often accompanied by falsehoods and disinformation. This goes against De Croo's values, he said on Thursday. "Freedom of expression is dear to my heart, but it cannot be an excuse for lies and manipulation."
He is looking to the EU to curb the power of giant tech companies and their influence on European politics. "If there is too much concentration of power and it is abused, then it becomes dangerous and action has to be taken," De Croo said
"Freedom of expression is dear to my heart, but it cannot be an excuse for lies and manipulation"
The European Commission launched an investigation into X in December 2023. In July, it accused Musk's platform of violating the EU's Digital Services Act, in part by deceiving users with its "blue tick" system. The investigation has not yet been concluded.
© PHOTO JOHN THYS / AFP
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