“While the precise intentions of Twitter’s new owner are not yet fully known, his statements and actions so far are cause for concern,” indicated the MEPs of the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament in a letter sent to the president of the institution, Roberta Metsola, on 8 November.
“There are good reasons to believe that the standards that have been Twitter’s until now could be weakened, at a time when the fight against election interference, disinformation and hate speech are more important than ever,” write MEPs in this letter signed by Vice-President Dita Charanzova and MEP Sophie in’t Veld.
Read also: Where is Twitter headed? Since the takeover, users have been wondering
The group asks Roberta Metsola to invite Elon Musk for a hearing at the European Parliament in order to “recall its obligations under EU law and the 2022 code of practice on disinformation”.
“Whatever Mr. Musk chooses, our motto will remain: our continent, our rules. We need to make sure Twitter will continue to take action against misinformation and hate speech,” tweeted the president of the group, the macronist Stéphane Séjourné.
Read also: Twitter ends (finally) in the hands of Elon Musk
The richest man in the world took control of Twitter on October 28, after buying the social network from the blue bird for 44 billion euros. He immediately dissolved the company’s board of directors, fired the managers, before laying off around half of the 7,500 employees.
The libertarian entrepreneur advocates an absolutist vision of freedom of expression which risks, according to his critics, opening the door to excesses.
European Commissioner Thierry Breton warned Elon Musk just after the takeover of the social network that he should respect the European regulations on large platforms which have just been adopted.
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– Brands are starting to turn away from Twitter
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