Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-000191/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Krzysztof Śmiszek (S&D), Reinier Van Lanschot (Verts/ALE), Thomas Waitz (Verts/ALE), Robert Biedroń (S&D), Sandro Ruotolo (S&D), Marina Kaljurand (S&D), Villy Søvndal (Verts/ALE), Joanna Scheuring-Wielgus (S&D), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Maria Walsh (PPE), Kim Van Sparrentak (Verts/ALE), Elio Di Rupo (S&D), Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (S&D), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Birgit Sippel (S&D), Heléne Fritzon (S&D), Johan Danielsson (S&D), Evin Incir (S&D), Adnan Dibrani (S&D), Sofie Eriksson (S&D), Klára Dobrev (S&D), Lena Schilling (Verts/ALE), Raphaël Glucksmann (S&D), Maria Grapini (S&D), Sebastian Everding (The Left), Rima Hassan (The Left), Alex Agius Saliba (S&D), Wouter Beke (PPE), Csaba Molnár (S&D), Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz (PPE), Pierre Jouvet (S&D), Alessandro Zan (S&D), Thomas Pellerin-Carlin (S&D), Magdalena Adamowicz (PPE), Per Clausen (The Left), Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska (PPE), Murielle Laurent (S&D), Bruno Gonçalves (S&D), Hanna Gedin (The Left), Aurore Lalucq (S&D), André Rodrigues (S&D), Elisabeth Grossmann (S&D), Marc Angel (S&D), Łukasz Kohut (PPE), René Repasi (S&D), Marta Temido (S&D), Katarina Barley (S&D), Tilly Metz (Verts/ALE)
In recent weeks, Elon Musk has made comments that could potentially have an adverse effect on European democracies. Using X, a ‘very large online platform’ within the meaning of the Digital Services Act (DSA), he has openly supported a right-wing-extremist party, Alternative for Germany (AfD), by both making controversial statements and inviting its leader to a live interview. Elon Musk also suggested that judges ruling on certain migration cases in the Italian courts be removed from office.
Considering Elon Musk’s ownership of X, as well as his position as an incoming advisor to president-elect Donald Trump:
- 1.Does the Commission consider these statements a ‘systemic risk’ that could have any actual or foreseeable negative effects on the freedom and pluralism of the media, as well as on civic discourse and electoral processes, as per Article 34(1)(b) and (c) of the DSA?
- 2.What steps does the Commission plan to take regarding the very large online platform’s failure to ‘mitigate risks’ within the meaning of Article 35 of the DSA? Will those steps be taken in this case?
- 3.What tools is the Commission using to assess X’s algorithm for the recommender system, and what are the findings of such assessments?
Submitted: 17.1.2025