A former EU commissioner has accused Elon Musk of “lying like hell” over allegations that the European Union tried to prevent his online conversations with controversial political figures, including Alice Weidel, co-leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
Thierry Breton, who stepped down as a European commissioner in September after spearheading regulations to rein in big tech, hit back at Musk’s claims in an interview with The Guardian. Breton rejected the assertion that the EU had interfered, labeling Musk’s statements as disingenuous.
Musk’s accusations
Musk, who owns X (formerly Twitter), alleged on Wednesday: “First, the EU tried to stop me from having an online conversation with president @realDonaldTrump. Now they want to prevent people from hearing a conversation with Alice Weidel, who might be the next chancellor of Germany. These guys really hate democracy.”
His comments referenced letters Breton had sent ahead of Musk’s high-profile interviews with Donald Trump in August and Alice Weidel on Thursday. Breton’s communications cited the Digital Services Act (DSA), which prohibits the amplification of harmful content, but he stressed they were reminders of legal obligations rather than censorship attempts. reported the Guardian.
Breton responds
“Nobody tried to stop him,” Breton said. “We are twisting information [here]. He is lying like hell.”
Breton maintained that the DSA protects free speech but enforces legal frameworks banning antisemitic, racist, and hateful content in both physical and digital spaces. “In Europe, freedom of speech is paramount… but it operates within a framework of laws,” he said, as quoted by the Guardian.
A history of clashes
Musk and Breton’s relationship has been marked by hostility. Recently, Musk dismissed Breton as “annoying” and invoked a crude line from the satirical film Tropic Thunder in response to his warnings.
The confrontation is the latest in a series of public spats involving Musk, who has also taken aim at British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, drawing criticism across Europe.
Investigations into X underway
X is currently under investigation by the European Commission for potential violations of the DSA. While Musk’s platform has stated it is cooperating, insiders suggest adjudication on the matter could be published soon.
Breton declined to comment on the investigation but emphasized that Europe’s digital regulations aim to balance freedom of expression with the prevention of harmful content. “With great power comes great responsibility,” he concluded.
