DSA tames Wild West Musk, says member of EU parliament

Evin Incir: “We must combat hate speech and threats”

At the same time, the DSA is also supposed to increase social media platforms’ transparency, for instance when it comes to content moderation decisions and how their algorithms work.

However, critics have warned that the DSA risks restricting freedom of speech.

“I’m convinced that the DSA is an extremely important tool. Of course, freedom of speech must be protected by law but at the same time we have to combat hate, incitement and disinformation, which constitute a threat to our democracy,” says Incir.

Incir welcomes the DSA, saying it will help reduce polarisation and disinformation, which she claims have increased on X since Elon Musk’s takeover. This, she says, is negatively impacting all of society.

“Online platforms have for a long, long time brought people together but now they’re increasingly turning into a Wild West of division of polarisation. People are becoming more and more isolated.”

Stegrud: Musk has a “big personality”

The Sweden Democrat Member of Parliament and previous MEP, Jessica Stegrud, is among those who have warned that the DSA can negatively impact freedom of speech – and she defends Elon Musk.

“I would say that Elon Musk has a big personality and really seems to value free speech. I think he is a force for good who is trying to bring back freedom of expression in the public realm”, Stegrud tells Kvartal.

Stegrud mentions an incident in August when then European Commissioner Thierry Breton sent an open letter to Musk warning the tech mogul about spreading ”harmful content” ahead of his live-streamed debate with US presidential candidate Donald Trump. Musk responded by tweeting out a meme containing the words: “Take a big step back and literally, fuck your own face!”.

“The whole affair shows up the weakness (of the DSA) and that the attitude to this legislation within the EU is all wrong”, says Stegrud.

Translated to English by Nathalie Rothschild.