Elon Musk has sparked a political uproar after holding a live-stream with Alice Weidel, the far-right leader of Germany’s AfD party. The EU is now demanding action, with lawmakers fearing the broadcast could influence Germany’s upcoming elections.
Elon Musk has sparked a political storm after holding a live-stream conversation with Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The event, broadcast on X (formerly Twitter), has left EU lawmakers furious, with many urging Brussels to step in and regulate the billionaire’s platform.
Weidel and her party have long faced accusations of downplaying Nazi history and promoting anti-immigrant views. Musk’s decision to give her a platform has raised serious concerns about the potential impact on Germany’s upcoming elections.
European officials are now calling for action under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), which regulates harmful content on social media platforms. The European Commission is investigating whether Musk’s live-stream violated any of these rules, which could result in heavy fines or even a suspension of services if found guilty.
The controversy highlights the growing influence of tech giants in political affairs. With the DSA in place, the EU has the power to fine social media companies up to 6% of their global turnover for failing to protect users from harmful content.
Critics of Musk’s actions, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have slammed the billionaire for supporting far-right figures and interfering in European politics. Macron pointed out how unimaginable it would have seemed just a decade ago that a tech mogul would support such a movement.
In Germany, Green Party MEP Alexandra Geese warned that Musk’s actions amounted to manipulation, arguing that X’s algorithm was flooding timelines with far-right propaganda. As the EU investigates, the pressure on Musk and his platform is set to grow, especially as the February elections draw closer.
