Jackass of the Week: Thierry Breton

Thierry Breton, the EU's tech chief, sent a letter to Elon Musk warning him about spreading harmful content on X, ahead of Musk's livestreamed interview with Donald Trump. Musk responded with a Tropic Thunder meme, but EU officials were surprised by Breton's actions, as they did not want to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. The EU is not in the business of electoral interference, and the timing and wording of the letter were not coordinated or agreed upon with the president or other commissioners. Musk's response was seen as rude and irresponsible, but Breton's actions were not surprising given his independent mindset. French President Emmanuel Macron has backed Breton for another term at the European Commission, despite Breton's eagerness to hold onto his digital files. The EU is still investigating Musk's platform for potential wrongdoing and wants to ensure that the Digital Services Act (DSA) implementation is not misused for political gain. The EU's enforcers are working to ensure that the DSA is enforced properly without political interference. Breton's letter to Musk has raised concerns about the EU's approach to regulating social media platforms. The EU's focus should be on implementing the DSA effectively, rather than engaging in political grandstanding.