E.U. Targets Elon Musk and Free Speech

What’s happening: The E.U. continues to target Elon Musk’s X platform under the Digital Markets Act, antitrust legislation which heightens scrutiny on certain digital services and mandates that “gatekeeper” platforms cannot favor their own products over those of competitors.

Between the lines: The persecution campaign is not about digital marketing. E.U. officials are angry with Musk’s refusal to censor content that it labels “disinformation” and “extreme.”

Why it matters: Penalizing or banning X would be another blow to already weakened freedom of speech in Europe — and could be a window into policies soon coming to America.

False freedom: European law lists “national security, territorial integrity or public safety … prevention of disorder or crime … protection of health or morals … protection of the reputation or the rights of others … preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or … maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary” as reasons to be deprived of free speech — essentially outlawing all speech.

• Not hypothetical: Europeans have been fined and arrested for speaking their minds. In one instance, Europe’s highest court ruled that insulting Islam did not qualify as free speech.

Coming to America? A recent poll of college students found that a majority believe in “speech codes” which regulate campus conversation. Another poll revealed that a majority of Americans believe the government should restrict “false information online, even if it limits freedom of information.” Plus, new E.U. limitations on Musk’s X could impact U.S. content.