Internet
Wissing happy after discussing Twitter rules with Musk
Federal Transport Minister Volker Wissing (l) and Twitter majority owner Elon Musk pose for a selfie in San Francisco. photo
© Volker Wissing/BMDV/dpa
Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter has caused quite a stir. Also in German politics. Federal Transport Minister Wissing expressed concerns. Now he met the Internet billionaire in San Francisco.
After concerns about the short message service Twitter, Federal Digital Minister Volker Wissing is now expressing fewer concerns.
After a meeting with majority owner Elon Musk in San Francisco, the FDP politician wrote on his Twitter account: “My position is clear: the platforms’ self-commitment against #disinformation must be strictly observed until the #DSA comes into force.” Elon Musk shares his opinion on this, he added. Next to his post, Wissing put a picture showing him with the tech billionaire.
In December, the Federal Minister said in an interview: “I am concerned about developments since the takeover by Elon Musk”. He has not yet decided whether he will continue to use the platform in the future. The provisions of the Digital Services Act (DSA) will apply throughout the EU from mid-February 2024. For particularly large platforms, the rules should apply from September 2023. Among other things, the DSA stipulates that hate speech and other illegal content on the Internet in the EU must be deleted more quickly in the future. It is intended to ensure stricter supervision of online platforms and more consumer protection.
Musk took over Twitter last October, replacing senior staff and making several controversial changes. “It was with great concern that he took note of Twitter’s platform regulations, their abrupt changes and arbitrary application,” wrote Sven Giegold (Greens), State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Economics, in a December letter to the EU Commission. The Brussels authority should carry out the necessary tests as soon as possible in order to designate Twitter as a “gatekeeper” within the meaning of the Digital Markets Act. “Gatekeepers” are companies with a particularly strong market position that meet a number of criteria. Special conditions apply to them, such as restrictions on the handling of users’ personal data. The Digital Markets Act will be applicable from May.