Meta’s moderation changes and Musk’s influence on German elections: Can the Digital Services Act protect European users?
Following Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s controversial announcement about scrapping third-party fact-checkers and replacing them with X-like community notes, experts are concerned that these moderation changes will negatively impact European users. This comes despite the Digital Services Act (DSA) having come into force in February last year to protect Europeans from online misinformation and hate speech.
Another issue troubling Brussels is Elon Musk’s recent livestream with the leader of Germany’s far-right AfD party. He’s been publicly supporting the party, raising accusations of interference in German elections.
Studio Europa Maastricht sat down with Dr. Sally Wyatt, Professor of Digital Cultures at Maastricht University, to discuss the potential impact of Meta’s recent decisions on democratic processes in the U.S. and Europe, how regulatory differences—such as the absence of the DSA in the U.S.—will shape online spaces on both sides of the Atlantic, and whether the DSA can effectively challenge American big tech companies.
The interview was conducted before Musk’s livestream with AfD’s Alice Weidel.
Also read
-
Brightlands Circular Space focuses on integrated approach to entire plastic value chain
Construction has officially started today in Limburg of Brightlands Circular Space, a demonstration facility that accelerates the transition to circular plastics.
-
Living the dream (job)
When Nina Gormanns was cleaning out her house in Canada, she found some old folders containing notes from a career workshop she had followed as a student at Maastricht University. “There was a sheet of paper where I’d written down the three things I really wanted to do later. I thought: Ha, I have...
-
Professional growth the European way
Many former students have fond memories of time spent abroad during their degree, whether they spent a semester in Italy or went to Latvia for an internship. Stays abroad are possible for university staff as well, for example, as part of YUFE Staff Development Programmes.