Elon Musk says he would reverse Donald Trump’s Twitter ban once he buys company

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Elon Musk, who’s providing to purchase Twitter, has given his assist to a brand new European Union legislation aimed toward defending social media customers from dangerous content material after he met with the bloc’s single market chief.

EU Inside Market Commissioner Thierry Breton advised The Related Press on Tuesday that he outlined to Musk how the bloc’s on-line laws goal to uphold free speech whereas additionally ensuring no matter is prohibited “will probably be forbidden within the digital house,” which Musk “totally agreed with.”

MORE: Elon Musk to purchase Twitter for about $44B, firm publicizes

In a video Breton tweeted late Monday, Musk stated the 2 had a “nice dialogue” and that he agrees with the Digital Companies Act, which is predicted to get last approval later this 12 months. It can make huge tech firms like Twitter, Google and Fb mother or father Meta police their platforms extra strictly for unlawful or dangerous content material like hate speech and disinformation or face billions in fines.

Musk’s plan to purchase Twitter for $44 billion has raised fears he would make adjustments to the platform that might prioritize free speech over on-line security – probably placing him at odds with the looming guidelines in Europe, which has led a worldwide motion to crack down on the facility of tech giants.

SEE ALSO: What’s Elon Musk going to do with Twitter? Specialists categorical doubts in billionaire CEO’s imaginative and prescient

The 65-second clip signifies Musk’s and the EU’s views could also be nearer than they seem. Breton says within the video that he defined the Digital Companies Act to Musk in a gathering at Tesla’s Texas headquarters. Musk responds by saying it is “precisely aligned with my considering.”

“I agree with the whole lot you stated, actually,” Musk stated. “I feel we’re very a lot of the identical thoughts and, you realize, I feel something that my firms can do that may be useful to Europe, we wish to try this.”

The tried Twitter acquisition by Musk, a billionaire and self-described free speech absolutist, had raised issues that he would take a hands-off method to content material moderation.

Breton advised AP he defined to Musk that the brand new legislation means “we want additionally to have extra moderators, and within the language the place we function. So he totally understood.”

The pair agreed on the significance of with the ability to examine algorithms that decide what social media customers are being proven, Breton stated.

The Digital Companies Act requires extra transparency for algorithms, and Musk has referred to as for opening them as much as public inspection.

One other matter of debate was President Donald Trump’s ban from Twitter for inciting violence on the U.S. Capitol rebellion, which Musk has reportedly opposed.

Breton stated he advised Musk the EU legislation contains provisions to keep up the rights of customers, comparable to giving them the suitable to enchantment bans.