Yet the EU, which has introduced new regulations to combat the digital giants' excesses, has not yet budged. On the subject of the "conversation" that Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's AfD party, and Musk are due to hold on X on Thursday, January 9, a European Commission spokesman said that "nothing prohibits the expression of personal opinions." He pointed out, however, that major platforms must not use algorithms that artificially accentuate the virality of a piece of content.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has so far remained silent on the subject of Musk's practices, although she did speak out when, on December 17, 2024, the EU executive branch opened an investigation into TikTok and its role in the Romanian presidential election. "We must protect our democracies from all forms of foreign interference," she said at the time.
Von der Leyen may be suffering from severe pneumonia, but, "persevering and dedicated as she is, she will continue to keep things running," maintained Commission spokeswoman Paula Pinho on Monday. Finland's Henna Virkkunen, executive vice president in charge of technological sovereignty, security and democracy, was equally silent.
