Official announcements from the European Commission or relevant EU bodies

EU Monitors Elon Musk's Live Talk with AfD Leader Alice Weidel for Potential DSA Violations

Jan 9, 2025, 08:42 AM

On January 9, 2025, Elon Musk, the billionaire tech entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), is set to host a live discussion with Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, on X Spaces at 19:00. The scheduled event has sparked controversy and concern among European Union officials and German politicians, who accuse Musk of interfering in Germany's federal elections slated for February. The European Commission has indicated that it will be closely monitoring the livestream for potential violations of the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), with up to 150 experts in Brussels and Seville assessing whether the event amplifies far-right content. Media outlets have reported that Musk's engagement with Weidel could provide additional support to the AfD, which has been gaining momentum in German politics. Critics are particularly alarmed given Musk's recent criticisms of German politicians and his calls for voters to support the AfD. In a recent interview, Weidel referred to Germans as a 'defeated people' and suggested they were 'slaves' to the U.S. The situation underscores broader questions about the role of tech entrepreneurs in political discourse and the regulation of online platforms.