Twitter must comply with Europe’s platform rules, warns EU digital chief Musk in virtual meeting | Popgen Tech

Washington
CNN Business
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A top European Union official warned Twitter owner Elon Musk on Wednesday that the social media platform must take significant steps to comply with EU content moderation laws, and that European officials will be closely monitoring for compliance.

Twitter has “huge work ahead” to meet its obligations under the Digital Services Act, Europe’s new platform regulation, Thierry Breton, the EU’s digital chief, said in a reading from his meeting with Musk.

“Twitter will need to implement transparent user policies, significantly strengthen content moderation and protect freedom of speech, tackle disinformation with determination, and limit targeted advertising,” Breton said in a statement. “All this requires sufficient AI and human resources, both in volumes and skills. I look forward to progress in all these areas and we will come and evaluate Twitter’s readiness on the ground.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, Musk agreed to have EU officials “stress test” the social media platform for compliance with the DSA early next year, Breton added. The testing, which will be conducted at Twitter’s headquarters in early 2023, will give Twitter ample opportunity to make changes to meet any legal deadlines and to prepare for an independent audit of the company’s practices. Added Breton’s office.

The DSA, which came into force this month, sets out new rules on how the technology industry deals with misinformation and illegal content on social media, as well as illegal goods and services on online marketplaces. The biggest companies that break the law can face billions in fines.

The meeting between Breton and Musk follows an earlier conversation the two had in May in which Musk expressed support for the European regulations.

In a blog post Twitter said Wednesday that none of its policies have changed since Musk took over the company, and that its trust and security team “remains strong and well-equipped, and automated detection plays an increasingly important role in eliminating abuse.” Content that violates Twitter’s rules will be added to the platform.

However, since his purchase of Twitter, Musk has reinstated numerous accounts suspended for earlier violations of Twitter’s rules, including that of former President Donald Trump, and relaxed enforcement of Twitter’s terms, including by enforcing Twitter’s Covid-19 misinformation terminate information policies.

In addition to EU scrutiny, Musk’s Twitter could also face additional pressure at home. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said at a conference on Wednesday that she “misspoke” when she previously said she saw “no basis” for Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, which included financing from a Saudi prince not investigate. Yellen added that it may be appropriate for the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to review Musk’s Twitter takeover.