EU Commissioner Thierry Breton Steps Down Following Controversy Over Musk-Trump Censorship

Resignation Following EU Disapproval

Just a month after the European Union publicly distanced itself from Commissioner Thierry Breton's comments, where he threatened to penalize Elon Musk's X platform for insufficient censorship, Breton has resigned.

Resignation Letter to European Commission President

In a letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Monday, Breton explained that while French President Emmanuel Macron had appointed him as France's official candidate to the College of Commissioners, von der Leyen had asked France to remove his name due to undisclosed personal reasons. Breton emphasized that these reasons were never directly discussed with him.

Controversial Comments

Breton had previously faced criticism from the EU for suggesting that he would penalize X if the platform did not immediately take action against "content that promotes hatred, disorder, incitement to violence, or certain instances of disinformation." This comment was made on the same day that Elon Musk and Donald Trump had an uncensored conversation on the platform. Musk responded to Breton's comments with a meme.

EU's Response to Breton's Actions

The EU accused Breton of acting independently with his letter to Musk, stating that he had not sought approval from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen before sending the letter. The Commission clarified in a statement that the timing and wording of the letter were not coordinated or agreed upon with the president or the commissioners. Several EU officials also expressed surprise at Breton's threat to Musk.

Reactions to Breton's Departure

Journalist Hans Mahncke noted that the letter indicated that Breton was fired. Breton, on the other hand, attempted to make light of the situation. Michael Shellenberger, a public figure, responded to Breton's departure with a sarcastic comment, indicating that Breton would not be missed.

Bottom Line

The resignation of Thierry Breton from his position as EU Commissioner after his controversial comments about Elon Musk's X platform has sparked various reactions. It raises questions about the balance between freedom of speech and the necessity for censorship on digital platforms. What are your thoughts on this issue? Feel free to share this article with your friends and discuss it further. Don't forget to sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is available every day at 6pm.