Freedom of speech? The European Union is considering shutting down Elon Musk's social network X — Citizens Info

According to Matteo Salvini, “millions of dissidents want to be silenced (…) unacceptable! Stop silencing!”

The leader of the right-wing Italian ruling party Lega, Matteo Salvini, assessed the proposal to close Elon Musk's social network in the states of the European Union if it does not comply with European regulations as a dangerous restriction on freedom of expression.

Matteo Salvini described the statements made by EU politicians on the possible closure of X on his social media pages as unacceptable and worrying.

“If Elon Musk does not comply with European digital services regulations, the European Union could shut down Xt in Europe,” wrote Matteo Salvini.

The right-wing politician referred to an earlier letter from Thierry Breton, the outgoing Internal Market Commissioner of the EU Commission. On August 12, Breton had called on Elon Musk in a letter before the interview with US presidential candidate Donald Trump broadcast on X to comply with EU laws.

On Monday, Sandro Gozi told the Italian daily La Repubblica: “If Elon Musk does not comply with European rules on digital services, the European Commission will ask service providers operating on the continent to stop using X or, in the latter case, order the complete closure of the social media platform on the Union's territory.”

Sandro Gozi was Minister for EU Affairs in the former Renzi government and is now a member of the European Parliament for the French ruling party of Emanuel Macron.

Matteo Salvini believed that “Macron’s Italian MEP” posed a further threat to freedom of expression in Europe.

The Digital Services Act, which regulates digital services, is a “European regulation that contains worrying elements that point to censorship, and the Lega was the only Italian party to vote against it,” Salvini wrote.

According to Matteo Salvini

“You want to silence millions of dissidents (…) unacceptable! Stop the joke!”

The Lega politician also included a message of thanks from Elon Musk in his post.

MTI

Cover photo: Matteo Salvini, leader of the Italian ruling party Lega, in the program Porta a Porta on the Italian public television station Rai Uno on June 15, 2022 in Rome.
MTI/EPA/ANSA/Riccardo Antimiani