Brussels, 7 January 2025
The Renew Europe Group in the European Parliament strongly condemns the growing interference of Elon Musk in European politics, through his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). We are deeply concerned about the impact of such actions on the democratic process and the integrity of political discourse in Europe.
In light of recent developments, the Renew Europe Group will request an urgent debate in the European Parliament plenary on the matter, demanding clear answers from the European Commission on the implementation of EU law and how platforms like X are being used to influence political outcomes and undermine democratic values within the European Union.
Valérie Hayer, President of Renew Europe, said:
“Europe cannot be naive or blind to Mr Musk’s determination to use X to meddle in the democratic affairs of EU Member States, backing far-right extremist causes. European citizens must decide who represents them, not the world’s richest man. We have a responsibility to apply European law and defend our democracies from foreign interference.”
Mr. Musk’s actions, whether through algorithmic manipulation, dissemination of disinformation, or targeted political messaging, pose a serious threat to European democracy.
In this context, we call on the European Commission to urgently implement the Digital Services Act (DSA) and ensure that all online platforms, including X, are held to account for their role in shaping political narratives and spreading harmful content. The DSA offers the necessary tools to regulate platforms and protect users from the misuse of their services for political gain. It is imperative that the Commission acts swiftly to ensure these safeguards are fully enforced.
Sandro Gozi, Renew Europe’s representative in the DSA working group in the EP, said:
“It is unacceptable for the European Commission to limit itself to vague statements about Elon Musk’s freedom of expression while failing to act against clear violations of the Digital Services Act by the platform X. A billionaire from Texas using his platform to meddle in European elections is intolerable.”
While respecting freedom of expression, the Renew Europe Group remains committed to defending democratic principles, upholding the rule of law, and ensuring that Europe’s political landscape remains free from external interference. We will continue to push for accountability and transparency in the digital space, and we urge all European institutions to take decisive action in this critical moment.
Source – Renew Europe (by e-mail)