The European Union’s Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, recently expressed dissatisfaction when Elon Musk decided to withdraw Twitter from the EU’s “voluntary code of practice against disinformation.”
Breton emphasized the importance of the upcoming Digital Service Act (DSA) for tackling disinformation, stating, “Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be a legal obligation under DSA as of August 25th.”
The DSA aims to establish a “safe, predictable, and trusted online environment” that protects consumers and discourages disinformation.
(Comment on Twitters withdrawal from EU code)
However, there are concerns that these regulations, dictated by those in positions of power, may lead to a subjective and self-serving interpretation of “safety,” “predictability,” and “disinformation.”
Many fear the DSA could grant disproportionate power to official organizations to police disinformation despite these bodies often being implicated in spreading misleading information.
The DSA, through its complex regulations, mandates social media companies to submit content moderation and “risk mitigation” reports to EU authorities.
It also establishes new emergency powers for the European Commission to regulate social media platforms and could impose fines of up to 6% of a company’s worldwide turnover for non-compliance.
In essence, the DSA appears to increase EU bureaucrats’ control over information on social media platforms, raising concerns over potential curbs on free speech and the possibility of misuse of broad censorship powers.