The Blubber

Thierry Breton, the European commissioner for the internal market, sent a letter to Elon Musk on Monday, just hours before Musk's live-streamed interview with Trump was scheduled to air on X. This action was taken without the consent of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, according to the Financial Times.

“The timing and content of the letter were not coordinated or approved by the president or the commissioners,” the European Commission stated. “The investigation into the dissemination of illegal content and information manipulation is ongoing. We are reviewing this, and all activities on the platform are considered in this assessment.”

The letter had been in the works for weeks, and the interview with Trump acted as a catalyst for its release, sources close to Breton told the Financial Times.

In the letter, Breton emphasized that European tech regulations required X to strike a balance between protecting free expression and addressing “harmful” content on the platform.

“This means, on one hand, ensuring that freedom of expression, media freedom, and pluralism are safeguarded, and on the other hand, implementing proportionate and effective measures to mitigate the amplification of harmful content related to significant events. This includes live streaming, which, if left unchecked, could heighten X’s risk profile and negatively impact civic discourse and public security,” Breton wrote.