France and Germany, along with several other European nations, are pushing the EU Commission to take decisive action against foreign interference in European elections. This urgent call highlights a growing concern that external actors are actively manipulating information and attempting to sway electoral outcomes across the continent.
The core of the problem lies in the unchecked power of social media platforms. The suggestion to ban platforms like Twitter and Facebook outright mirrors similar calls for action against TikTok in the United States. This drastic measure, while controversial, underscores the perceived inability of these platforms to effectively regulate the spread of disinformation and propaganda.… Continue reading
Twelve EU member states urged the European Commission to utilize the Digital Services Act to combat foreign interference in European elections. The letter, citing escalating threats primarily from Russia and China, specifically requests the establishment of a dedicated EU body to counter disinformation campaigns. This action is deemed necessary to protect the integrity of upcoming elections, including Germany’s upcoming snap elections and Poland’s presidential election. The signatories emphasized the need for the Commission to enforce the DSA’s provisions against large online platforms to prevent the spread of harmful content and election manipulation.
Read More
MEPs and several EU governments criticize the European Commission’s slow enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), citing Elon Musk’s actions as a prime example. Concerns center on Musk’s apparent algorithmic manipulation to boost his own tweets, potentially violating the DSA’s transparency requirements and influencing upcoming German elections through his promotion of the AfD. The Commission’s ongoing investigation into X’s DSA compliance is deemed too slow, with calls for faster action to prevent the misuse of platforms and protect democratic processes. Failure to effectively enforce the DSA could result in significant fines for non-compliant companies or even an EU ban.
Read More
Matt Underwood 
John Q. Hosedrinker