EU Commissioner Thierry Breton issued a warning to Elon Musk regarding his legal responsibilities to prevent the spread of harmful content on X, particularly ahead of Musk's live interview with Donald Trump.

The European Commission has cautioned Musk and CEO Linda Yaccarino about potential penalties for failing to control illegal content on their platform, including hate speech and incitements to violence.

Classified as a 'Very Large Online Platform' under the Digital Services Act (DSA), X Corp. is legally obligated to comply with EU laws, especially given that one-third of its 300 million users are based in Europe.

An ongoing investigation into X focuses on the platform's effectiveness in combating misinformation and illegal content.

Breton's warning follows recent riots in the UK, which were exacerbated by misinformation regarding a suspect in a stabbing incident that resulted in the deaths of three school-aged girls.

Breton emphasized that the DSA applies to all content on X accessible to European users, highlighting the risks of content that promotes violence, hate, or racism.

The DSA mandates that X must take action to prevent the distribution of harmful content that could negatively impact civil discourse and public safety.

The EU can impose fines up to 6% of a company's global annual revenue for violations of the DSA, and X has previously faced accusations of breaching rules concerning dark patterns and advertising transparency.

Musk's response to Breton's letter included a sarcastic 'Bonjour' and a meme from 'Tropic Thunder,' which was perceived as an insult to the commissioner.

In response to the EU's concerns, Yaccarino criticized Breton's involvement in the US election campaign, labeling it an unprecedented attempt to impose European law on political activities in the US.

Breton noted that Musk's upcoming interview with Trump will be accessible to users in the European Union, raising further concerns about the potential amplification of harmful content.