The European Union is considering broadening its investigation into Elon Musk’s social platform, X, to examine potential violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA), according to Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s Executive Vice President.
Speaking to Bloomberg TV, Virkkunen said the EU is evaluating whether the current scope of the probe is sufficient to address the alleged breaches of the DSA. The investigation, launched in December 2023, accuses X of failing to effectively combat illegal content and disinformation, while also questioning the platform’s transparency and user interface design practices.
The scrutiny intensified as Musk, now a close advisor to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, engaged in activities raising ethical concerns. These include publicly endorsing far-right figures, such as Alice Weidel of Germany's Alternative for Germany party, ahead of the country’s February 23 snap elections. A live-streamed discussion between Musk and Weidel on X, suspected of receiving undue promotion, is under investigation for possibly violating DSA regulations by giving a political candidate an unfair advantage.
Under the DSA, large platforms found guilty of non-compliance could face penalties amounting to six percent of their global annual revenue.
The EU’s focus on curbing digital platforms’ influence follows heightened concerns about foreign meddling in European elections. Romania's recent presidential election annulment, attributed to Russian interference through social media, prompted the EU to also launch a DSA investigation into TikTok, owned by ByteDance Ltd., a China-based company.
However, the EU's regulatory efforts face potential headwinds as President-elect Trump, set to take office soon, is under pressure from Big Tech to counteract European actions. Musk has vowed to contest unfavorable rulings under the DSA, while Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has publicly urged Trump to challenge EU-imposed fines on U.S. companies.
On a recent podcast, Zuckerberg criticised the EU’s measures, likening them to tariffs and suggesting the U.S. government should take a firm stance. Trump’s administration has yet to outline its approach but is reportedly considering a more confrontational stance toward European regulations.
Despite the tensions, Virkkunen expressed optimism about future collaboration with the incoming U.S. administration, stating the EU is open to working closely with Trump to address shared challenges in the digital sphere.