Manipulation, deception, transparency: “We will make full use of our toolbox,” promises Europe.

The European Union’s Digital Services Act is now in force for very large online platforms (VLOPs). And Europe doesn’t like what it hears from Twitter.

So here comes the first investigation. In today’s SB Blogwatch, we imagine Elon Musk’s response: GFY, EU.

Your humble blogwatcher curated these bloggy bits for your entertainment. Not to mention: Musk whistles.

DSA VLOP Sinks In

What’s the craic? Jon Porter reports—“EU opens formal DSA investigation into X”:

“Previously banned accounts”
The platform formerly known as Twitter may have broken the European Union’s tough new Digital Services Act rules, regulators said as they announced the opening of a formal investigation today. … The European Commission says … it will look at X’s attempts to counter the spread of illegal content … and will examine X’s efforts to stop “information manipulation,” … “deceptive design” relating to “the so-called Blue checks,” advertising transparency, and data access for researchers.
…
Since his purchase of … Twitter, new owner Elon Musk has cut back its trust and safety team, overhauled its verification system to allow anyone to pay for a “blue check,” and reinstated numerous previously banned accounts. … “X remains committed to complying with the Digital Services Act and is cooperating with the regulatory process,” [Twitter’s] statement said.

What about the other VLOPs? Supantha Mukherjee digs deeper—“first probe under new rules”:

Horse’s mouth? Margrethe Vestager and Thierry Breton—“Commission opens formal proceedings”:

“Too big to care”
The higher the risk large platforms pose to our society, the more specific the requirements of the Digital Services Act are. We take any breach of our rules very seriously. And the evidence we currently have is enough to formally open a proceeding against X.
…
The time of big online platforms behaving like they are “too big to care” has come to an end. We now have clear rules, ex ante obligations, strong oversight, speedy enforcement, and deterrent sanctions … We will make full use of our toolbox to protect our citizens and democracies.

O RLY? Raphaël Saunier is even handed:

Elon Musk is running very interesting but also very reckless experiments on society, democracy, and free speech. Hats off for holding him accountable, demanding transparency, access to data, and creating a healthy and much-needed debate.

If only the EU had the inside track. Here’s threeseed:

Musk burned so many bridges with fired employees that the list of whistleblowers for any issues will be endless. … Interesting that it is timed with the recent launch of Threads in EU.

It takes a global village. u/ChampionshipLow8541 predicts a prediction:

Only last week, Max Schrems and friends filed a DSA complaint of “illegal micro-targeting”:

X abuses sensitive data for targeted ads: [It] harvests sensitive data such as political views and religious beliefs by monitoring user behavior. … This does not only violate the GDPR, but also the Digital Services Act.
…
In theory, this violation shouldn’t even be possible: X states in its advertising guidelines that political affiliation and religious beliefs should not be used for the purpose of ad targeting. In reality, it seems that X is not enforcing the ban in any way.

But not every EU citizen is supportive. Marc Guyon, for example:

The EU is supposed to be a union for peace and a single free market, for a strong economy and the creation of wealth for Europeans. That’s all—not restrictions of freedom of speech, with useless regulations and expensive technocrat jobs funded by the EU taxpayer.

Meanwhile, KobayashiSaru reminds us who we’re dealing with:

His parents made a lot of money from emerald mines in apartheid South Africa. He took his inheritance, and … invested it in startups like PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX, often on the condition of him being labeled as a “founder” of those companies so that he could claim credit.
…
Making all of this money never filled the hole he had inside himself. His ego took over, he stopped listening to experts and we have the flailing, failing manchild we see today.

And Finally:

Mister Musk makes an offer we can’t refuse

Previously in And Finally

You have been reading SB Blogwatch by Richi Jennings. Richi curates the best bloggy bits, finest forums, and weirdest websites … so you don’t have to. Hate mail may be directed to @RiCHi, @richij or [email protected]. Ask your doctor before reading. Your mileage may vary. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Do not stare into laser with remaining eye. E&OE. 30.

Image sauce: DonkeyHotey (cc:by-sa; leveled and cropped)