EU warns Musk of ‘sanctions’ after Twitter suspension of journalists

The European Union (EU) has warned Twitter owner Elon Musk of prospective sanctions against the popular social media platform following the “worrying” suspension of several journalists.

The development came after Twitter suspended the accounts of several prominent journalists working for the New York Times, CNN and the Washington Post who had covered news about Musk.

A Twitter spokesperson stated that the ban, which also included journalists from The Intercept and Mashable as well as several independent reporters, was related to the live sharing of location data.

Musk, who has not commented directly on the suspension of the journalists, said in a tweet that “criticizing me all day long is totally fine, but doxxing my real-time location and endangering my family is not.”

However, EU commissioner Vera Jourova warned Musk that the EU’s Digital Services Act requires platforms to adhere to press freedom, noting that banning the reputed journalists from the popular platform was a source of concern for them.

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“News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying. EU’s Digital Services Act requires respect of media freedom and fundamental rights. This is reinforced under our Media Freedom Act,” Jourova tweeted on Friday.

“Elon Musk should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon,” she warned.

News about arbitrary suspension of journalists on Twitter is worrying. EU’s Digital Services Act requires respect of media freedom and fundamental rights. This is reinforced under our #MediaFreedomAct. @elonmusk should be aware of that. There are red lines. And sanctions, soon.

— Věra Jourová (@VeraJourova) December 16, 2022

Meanwhile, the German Foreign Office also tweeted screenshots of the accounts of the journalists who had been suspended by Twitter, warning that the ministry was opposed to moves that jeopardized press freedom.

“Press freedom cannot be switched on and off on a whim,” the ministry wrote on its official Twitter account, adding that “The journalists below can no longer follow us, comment and criticize. We have a problem with that, @Twitter.”

Similarly, the UK government noted that social media platforms needed to balance free speech with user protection.

“We have been clear that regardless of ownership of social media, platforms must balance protecting their users while upholding free speech”, a spokesman for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday when asked about the suspension of the journalists by Twitter.

“That is why under the Online Safety Bill large platforms like Twitter will be prohibited from suspending or banning users where this does not breach their terms of service,” the spokesperson added.

In the meantime, CNN also slammed Twitter’s move, saying they were concerned by the move which was unfair; however, they were not surprised.

The “impulsive and unjustified suspension of a number of reporters... is concerning but not surprising.”

Furthermore, members of the United States Democratic Party voiced concern following Musk’s emergence as the new leader of Twitter. He took control of Twitter in October in a $44bn deal.

On the other end of the political spectrum, Musk’s Twitter purchase has been a source of joy and relief for the Republicans in the US.

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Firebrand Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, of Georgia, whose personal account was banned after multiple violations of Twitter’s disinformation rules, tweeted from her official account before the deal was finalized: “Prepare for blue check mark full-scale meltdown after @elonmusk seals the deal and I should get my personal Twitter account restored.”

Former US President Donald Trump, who was banned on the giant social media platform for spreading disinformation, announced he would not rejoin Twitter even if his account was reinstated by Musk. Following Twitter’s ban, Trump has created his own social media platform for his followers named Truth Social.

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