EU Threatens Twitter Ban Unless Musk Ramps Up Moderation Tactics, Report Says

The European Union has issued a warning to Twitter owner Elon Musk saying the platform will be banned unless it tightens its moderation policies and eliminates its "arbitrary" approach to reinstating banned users, according to the Financial Times, after Musk significantly loosened rules prohibiting hate speech and disinformation.

KEY FACTS
Thierry Breton, who is in charge of enforcing the EU's digital laws, told Musk on Wednesday Twitter risks being in violation of the Digital Services Act, which requires social media platforms to remove hate speech and bans ads targeting people based on political beliefs.
Breton also said Musk must agree to an “extensive independent audit” of the platform, the Financial Times reported, citing people with knowledge of talks between the two.
Musk reportedly responded by calling the Digital Services Act "very sensible," and he has vowed Twitter's policies will comply with applicable laws.

Musk has indicated he will reinstate nearly all banned Twitter accounts, including those suspended for hate speech, after conducting a Twitter poll last week where 72.4% of respondents supported offering “general amnesty to suspended accounts.” The poll came just days after Musk reinstated former President Donald Trump following a similar survey, where just under 52% of respondents supported letting Trump back. Twitter’s reinstatement policies have changed several times since Musk took over in October, and he initially promised an “independent moderation council” would convene before any accounts were allowed back, but later scrapped the idea. Musk says hate speech is now allowed on Twitter but hateful posts will be demonetized and not promoted in line with what he calls a “freedom of speech, but not of reach” approach.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.