Elon Musk's European power play: Challenge for EU politics
Elon Musk and his influence on European politics are becoming a serious challenge for the European Union. Platform X, owned by Musk, may impact elections in Poland and other countries, according to "Politico".
Elon Musk, a well-known billionaire and close associate of Donald Trump, is stirring controversy in Europe. His actions on Platform X, formerly known as Twitter, are seen as support for right-wing political forces. As Politico notes, Musk may influence the upcoming presidential elections in Poland.
Recently, Musk expressed support for Alternative for Germany (AfD), an extreme right-wing party in Germany. Before the parliamentary elections in that country, which are scheduled for February 23rd, he plans to conduct an interview with AfD leader Alice Weidel. Musk also criticized German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, calling him an "incompetent fool".
Musk is not limiting himself to Germany. He also criticized UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling on King Charles III to dissolve Parliament and call for early elections.
"Politico" emphasizes that Musk may influence many elections in Europe, including in countries such as Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic, Ireland, and others.
The European Union and the Digital Services Act
The European Union has the potential to respond to Musk's actions through the Digital Services Act (DSA).
The European Commission has previously recognized that Platform X violated DSA regulations, including those related to user verification and advertising transparency. Felix Kartte from the lobbying group Reset notes that the DSA gives regulators the ability to assess practices on Platform X.
Kartte points out that if Musk's actions generate public risk, such as amplifying hate speech, regulators can argue that Platform X is not fulfilling its obligations.
"Politico" suggests that although the European Union could use the DSA against Musk, the current priority seems to be cooperating with the Trump administration.
