In order to bring itself into compliance with strict new European sensitive-content regulations before an August deadline, Elon Musk’s Twitter needs to allocate more resources to addressing sensitive content, according to Thierry Breton, the internal market commissioner of the bloc.
Breton said there are “critical” areas which will require immediate focus, particularly relating to child abuse and controlling election disinformation.
The commissioner has been meeting with executives in Silicon Valley, at companies such as Twitter, OpenAI, and Meta Platforms Inc., to discuss the EU’s upcoming rules on content regulation and draft rules on artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, an EU team of experts performed a stress test of the compliance systems at Twitter. Although Bretton characterized the results of the test as “promising,” he noted there are several areas which Twitter will need to focus on in order to bring itself into compliance.
Twitter will have until August 25th to implement the new EU Digital Services Act, which will impose the most stringent set of regulations policing online content. Standing with Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino, Breton said that as of August 26th, “the bird will fly on its own.”
In an interview, Bretton said that Twitter owner Elon Musk, “made very clear that he will comply with our regulation and that he believes that DSA is a good regulation, and this is what he wants to do. But there’s some work to be done.”
Bretton characterized the conversations between EU officials and the leadership at Twitter as constructive. Twitter flew employees from Chicago, Los Angeles, and Ireland in for the compliance test. The DSA unit from the EU flew in to San Francisco as well, to examine the data with the company so that it understands how well prepared it is to bring itself into compliance with the rules.
Twitter intends to use technology to police disinformation and illegal content, however Breton noted the technology will have to be proven before the deadline is reached.
The commissioner said, “My team spent two days and reviewed many, many programs they want to put in place. I think it’s going in the right direction.”
In a tweet, Twitter noted it is “on track” to be in compliance when the DSA comes into effect. Yaccarino said separately, “Europe is very important to Twitter.”
The commissioner noted the stress test is being offered to all other online platforms which want to participate. TikTok, owned by Chinese company Bytedance Ltd., will take part in its own stress test next month.
Breton said, “Some CEOs would prefer not to change anything. It’s more comfortable. Some resist, some lobby. Then at the end of the day, companies will follow.”
