.png)
As a new Prime Minister once again made his inaugural parliamentary speech in France, opening up many domestic debates, most notable was his decision to name Elon Musk as the unbridled face of a United States seeking to exert world domination. This uncharacteristic comment from the head of the French government set the confrontational but necessary tone for Donald Trump’s Presidency who takes office today. Indeed, Elon Musk has been playing by his own rules. From his enthusiastic endorsement of the AfD in Germany to his attempts to meddle in the next UK General Election, his public statements seem to be going far beyond his new role at the Head of Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.
The European Union has always been a step behind to regulate online content and the influence of American corporations, but Musk’s recent outspokenness seems to have reignited an ambition for European legislation on these questions. Not only have a number of MEPs from the Socialist, Greens and Left groups called upon Roberta Metsola to develop new tools to address the emerging threats posed by online platforms and to expand the EU’s foreign policy to include a sanctions framework against foreign interferences in election processes, but the Socialist Group has proposed a debate titled “Elon Musk and the abuse of social media – threats to European democracy” and Nathalie Loiseau, ex French Minister and figure of the Renew Group in parliament, has called with a large group of colleagues for the European Commission to “examine compliance with the Digital Service Act” of Musk’s interventions in the member states’ domestic debate.
These numerous initiatives which are both cross party and cross border highlight an uncharacteristic show of force from the EU, which is often criticised for the speed with which it reacts to current events. Perhaps European Lawmakers should be thanking Musk for his ability to unite so strongly against him that he has facilitated debates on much needed change. Indeed, while Musk is the catalyst for these discussions today they highlight the European Union’s much greater need to protect itself against foreign threats and online interferences.
Poland, who currently holds the Presidency of the Council, had already made resistance to foreign interference and disinformation one of its key priorities for its presidency, but these developments will no doubt give it a stronger mandate to work on furthering the measures which came into effect in 2023 and 2024 from the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act.
France has put Elon Musk on notice, Germany’s Olaf Scholz has once again spoken out against him calling him “a danger to the democratic development of Europe” and a recent YouGov poll in the United Kingdom has found that close to half of Britons think that Elon Musk made a negative contribution to the world but Musk’s influence across Europe continues to grow. The EU cannot afford to succumb to its technocratic tendencies and lengthy calendars if it wants to show and protect the strength and values of our democracies.
Melissa Amroun from the French agency Kairos Public Affairs wrote this contribution.
Contact any of our United Government Affairs network members to analyse the threats and opportunities behind this initiative and engage in policymaking.
Comments