Germany expects Twitter to fight disinformation

Germany has told Twitter chief Elon Musk that it expects the messaging service to voluntarily continue to combat disinformation. Transportation and Digital Affairs Minister Volker Wessing met the billionaire this week in California.

Wissing also stressed the importance of the European Digital Services Act, a law that requires online platforms to act against illegal content. Musk is said to have reassured the German minister in an “open and long conversation,” according to a spokesperson for the minister. The spokesman added that Germany is closely monitoring Twitter.

Musk, better known as the boss of Tesla, bought Twitter in late October. Since then, he has made a series of controversial decisions, including allowing anyone previously banned to return to messaging. He also regularly consults his followers on what to do and puts more and more right-wing political statements on Twitter.

Since Musk says almost all data falls under freedom of expression, he is closely monitored by government departments in the United States and Europe. There will already be investigations into whether Twitter is abiding by all the laws.