
Musk Closes Twitter's Brussels Office, Raising Concerns from EU Regulators
Concerns are raised regarding Twitter's capacity to adhere to new, tough European Union regulations against illegal online content in light of the company's i
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CIO Applications Europe | Thursday, December 01, 2022

Twitter’s decision to close its Brussels headquarters and lay off hundreds of workers raises concerns about the company’s ability to comply with new strict European Union rules against illicit online content.
FREMONT, CA:Concerns are raised regarding Twitter's capacity to adhere to new, tough European Union regulations against illegal online content in light of the company's intention to close its Brussels office and lay off hundreds of employees.
Everything about the Union's digital policy was in the limelight at Twitter's Brussels office. The Twitter team in Brussels actively participated in developing the EU's digital policies and worked with important European Commission officials. Even though it would seem that having a Twitter headquarters in Brussels just benefited the EU, Twitter also benefited.
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Elon Musk recently cut his small office, which had six employees, to two, to sources with firsthand knowledge of the departure. The remaining two individuals left last week after Musk insisted on a hardcore working culture among his staff.
Significant Big Tech legislation that went into effect in the EU last week was worked to guarantee that Twitter conformed with it. New guidelines for misinformation, advertising, and illegal content are established under the Digital Services Act and are extended to other significant platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and TikTok.
During Twitter's 7,500 personnel layoff campaign on November 4th, additional Brussels execs were fired. Because the company no longer has the local expertise to help it comprehend its new commitments, Twitter may disobey the new law purposefully or just because it has no personnel working in Brussels.
EU Concerns:European politicians and regulators have consistently demanded that Twitter adhere to their rules. A few hours after the purchase, European Commissioner Thierry Breton sent Musk a warning, urging the business to abide by the law.
Governments now have more authority to enforce regulations governing how digital companies manage information and determine whether to remove illegal content according to the EU's Digital Services Act. Musk may be fined up to six per cent of Twitter's annual income and possibly banned if he doesn't comply.
Compliance will be difficult and expensive. By the end of the summer, the major internet platforms, including Twitter, will need to add facilities for users to report illegal content and recruit enough staff to oversee content throughout the EU. A risk assessment outlining how the company lessens harmful content that is legal but unlawful, such as harassment and misinformation, will also be required. To ensure adherence to the new rules, the commission might require Twitter to modify its algorithm or even conduct a raid on its headquarters.
A group of senators in the US have also requested that the US Federal Trade Commission look into any possible violations of Twitter's consumer protection laws or consent decree that occurred when it was under Musk's management.
The closure of Twitter's Brussels office comes amid claims that the company's major European and international locations are experiencing more widespread personnel shortages. The withdrawals from Twitter's Dublin, Ireland, office, which is essential to the company's compliance with the stringent General Data Protection Regulation of the EU, are particularly noteworthy. Concerns regarding Twitter's employment levels and capacity to uphold compliance with EU data protection laws, which can result in fines of up to four per cent of global revenue, have already been voiced by Ireland's privacy authority.
Since Musk's takeover, when he made it possible for anybody to be verified for 8 dollars, concerns about the platform's growing amount of false material have grown more serious.
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