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Brussels – How should democracy be protected from undue influence – without sacrificing freedom of speech? That question is to be investigated by the Swede Tomas Tobé, who will be the parliament’s representative for the EU’s “democratic shield”.
Tobé, vice chairman of the EPP group, will be primarily responsible for what the EU Parliament wants to see as measures to avoid incidents similar to those in Romania, where the entire presidential election had to be redone after vaguely funded online campaigns behind one of the candidates.
The issue is particularly hot considering how X-owner Elon Musk has used his platform to support, for example, the far-right party AFD ahead of the election in Germany.
Tobé does not want to silence Musk – but notes that X also has a responsibility not to spread illegalities.
“I think Europe should show a bit more self-confidence and argue a little more for our own ideas than trying to find ways to censor Elon Musk. But he must then bear responsibility for owning a platform that is, among other things, under investigation for spreading Hamas propaganda. He cannot be free from that,” Tobé tells TT.
He will now seek a balance that can gain support from a majority in the EU Parliament.
“We cannot have lawless freedom of speech and we cannot have total EU censorship either. And somewhere in between, you will find me,” says Tobé.
(February 5)