Mon Sep 16 15:43:16 UTC 2024: ## French EU Commissioner Resigns Amidst Disputes with Von der Leyen, X Scrutiny Continues

**Brussels, Belgium** – Thierry Breton, the French European Union Commissioner for the internal market, has resigned following disagreements with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. While Breton’s tenure saw him clash with Elon Musk, the owner of social media platform X (formerly Twitter) over content regulation, experts believe his departure is unlikely to be a victory for the tech billionaire.

Breton was heavily involved in scrutinizing X under EU regulations, particularly concerning the platform’s handling of content moderation and safety. However, experts like Philipp Hacker, research chair for Law and Ethics of the Digital Society at European University Viadrina in Frankfurt, emphasize that the EU’s regulatory framework will continue regardless of the individual commissioner.

“The concerns surrounding the platform’s disintegration of their content moderation and safety teams will still require attention under the Digital Services Act,” Hacker stated. He also predicted a more neutral and professional approach to the issues under a new commissioner, allowing for a more focused engagement on combating hate speech and disinformation.

Anil Doshi, lecturer at University College London’s School of Management, echoed this sentiment, stating that “the EU’s regulatory institutions are robust and will persist beyond any one individual.” He stressed that X must comply with the regulations, not individuals.

While acknowledging Breton’s strong personality and ability to stand against big tech leaders, Andrea Renda, director of research at the Centre for European Policy Studies, believes that the overall agenda and the implementation of the Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Markets Act (DMA) will remain unaffected.

Following Breton’s resignation, X, in a statement attributed to CEO Linda Yaccarino, declared it “a good day for free speech.”

Breton’s resignation comes amidst an ongoing investigation into X for potential breaches of the EU’s DSA, triggered by concerns over the platform’s failure to adequately moderate disinformation, hate speech, and violent content, particularly in the context of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The EU is determined to ensure X’s content moderation policies comply with the DSA’s strict measures for large platforms. Violations could result in hefty fines or even a suspension of services within the EU.

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