European Union industry chief Thierry Breton reportedly told Elon Musk during a video meeting Wednesday, that he must adhere to a checklist pro-censorship rules set out in the block's new Digital Services Act. DSA aims to set the global standard for how tech giants must police content on the internet.
Apparently EU bureaucrats are angry at the new Twitter owner for reinstating banned users, and want Twitter to also agree to an "extensive independent audit" of the platform by next year.
In a readout of the conversation provided by Breton, he told Musk: "There is still huge work ahead, as Twitter will have to implement transparent user policies, significantly reinforce content moderation and protect freedom of speech, tackle disinformation with resolve, and limit targeted advertising."
As a result, the pair agreed that the EU will carry out a "stress test" at Twitter's headquarters early next year to assess the company's compliance with the rules.
Musk has previously said Twitter would adhere to all relevant national and regional laws.
Left-wing politicians and bureaucrats have been smearing Musk since he announced and closed the deal to buy Twitter, claiming that his push to allow more free speech on the social media platform, will somehow 'harm free speech?'
Musk said he will release documents relating to Twitter's collusion under previous management, with governments to suppress free speech.
Twitter's ex-Head of Trust and Safety, Yoel Roth claimed in an interview Tuesday, that the social media platform is no longer safer under Musk as he previously said in a recent New York Times op-ed. Critics have pointed out that Roth is a left-wing hyper-partisan activist who faced criticism from free speech advocates over his moderation policy while at the company.
Replying to a tweet about Roth's remarks, Musk wrote: "The obvious reality, as long-time users know, is that Twitter has failed in trust & safety for a very long time and has interfered in elections." He added in another tweet: "Twitter 2.0 will be far more effective, transparent and even-handed."
Musk recently revealed that Apple is threatening to boot Twitter app from the App Store over content moderation concerns. And politicians in the US have slammed the Smartphone giant for undermining free speech and aiding and abetting Chinese regime's crackdown on anti-government protests.
Mark Zuckerberg Too
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg also added to the chorus of concerns about Apple's App Store policy which many app developers have had problem with over the years. During an appearance Wednesday, at New York Times' Dealbook conference, he noted that Smartphone giant's policies differ from other tech giants, including Microsoft and Google, which allow apps to be sideloaded onto devices if they're inaccessible in app stores.
"I do think Apple has sort of singled themselves out as the only company that is trying to control, unilaterally, what apps get on the device and I don't think that's a sustainable or a good place to be," Zuckerberg said.
In an apparent bid to fend off the mounting heated criticisms, and abrasive trolling by Musk, the Smartphone giant's CEO Tim Cook invited him over for a meeting.
Elon Musk Reconciles With Tim Cook For Now
On Wednesday afternoon, Musk posted a photo of the Apple campus, thanking Cook for a tour of the tech giant's Cupertino headquarters. "Thanks @tim_cook for taking me around Apple's beautiful HQ," he tweeted.
He added in another tweet: "Good conversation. Among other things, we resolved the misunderstanding about Twitter potentially being removed from the App Store. Tim was clear that Apple never considered doing so."