Elon Musk has no easy way out of his fight with the European Commission, which is investigating whether his social-media site X breached rules designed to limit illegal content and disinformation. The billionaire is facing determined adversaries in the relevant Commissioners Thierry Breton and Margrethe Vestager, who have a new legal tool. Musk may eventually conclude that pulling the plug makes sense.

The Commission last month issued a preliminary finding, opens new tab that X had breached the Digital Services Act (DSA), a sprawling new piece of legislation, opens new tab that aims to combat harmful online content. Among other things, Brussels took issue with the site’s blue user checkmarks, which it fears bestow a false credibility on some accounts. X said it disagreed with the Commission’s assessment. Another investigation, into the way Musk’s site moderates disinformation and illegal content, is ongoing.

Breton took the unusual step of reminding Musk publicly about the DSA on X, causing consternation in Brussels but also highlighting the Frenchman’s commitment to the case. The ultimate possible penalties include fines equivalent to 6% of revenue.

  • @[email protected]
    2•3 months ago

    SpaceX is blocking access to a public beach because Musk is still involved. Hell, SpaceX is in Texas because of Musk. SpaceX’s work culture is because Musk is a prick.

    Everything you mentioned about SpaceX is really Musk. As I said, SpaceX would be better without Musk.

    And mars is pipe dream.

    But science is cool. Being able to do zero gravity experiments is cool. SpaceX has the only reliable rocket right now - and it’s beating the competition by a healthy margin

    Also, I’m glad that you are in a position to turn down jobs. Some people aren’t.

    • macniel
      6•3 months ago

      Also, I’m glad that you are in a position to turn down jobs. Some people aren’t.

      you’ve got to stand up for your morals and your self-respect eventually though.

    • Snot FlickermanEnglish
      3•3 months ago

      If you’re working at SpaceX, you’re not exactly struggling to find a job because you’re not easily replaced. You’re not flipping burgers, or some other job that is coded as “low skill labor.” They don’t hire janitorial directly, they contract out those kind of jobs.

      But sure, somehow engineers at SpaceX aren’t on a position to turn down jobs. Get the fuck out of here with this shit.

      Also, I’d prefer science that actually helps our biosphere, which last I checked, lots of that science can be done on terra firma. Very little of it needs to be done in space. It’s a lot of waste for somewhere that doesn’t help us survive as a species in the short-term and only maybe helps us survive in the long-term. Space science can fucking eat it.

      There’s lots of public sector jobs. Oh no! They pay less. Whatever will these people do with… less money! Seriously give me a fucking break.

      • @[email protected]English
        4•3 months ago

        It isn’t so much that public sector jobs pay less, it’s that they pay so little (even with locality adjustments) that you can’t afford to live near them: Oh, and you have to live near them, because the government as a whole maintains a raging hate-on for telework/WFH.

      • partial_accumen
        2•3 months ago

        Very little of it needs to be done in space. It’s a lot of waste for somewhere that doesn’t help us survive as a species in the short-term and only maybe helps us survive in the long-term. Space science can fucking eat it.

        So your argument is against spaceflight in general? Modern technology, like the computer or phone you’re using now to post, wouldn’t exist without spaceflight.

        • Snot FlickermanEnglish
          2•3 months ago

          ARPAnet literally was developed without spaceflight what the fuck are you talking about mate lmao

          IBM has been making computation devices since 1911… 8 years after the first human flight on a plane. They made punch-cards for the Nazi’s to track people for fucks sake.

          …but sure, they wouldn’t exist without spaceflight.

          • partial_accumen
            1•3 months ago

            ARPAnet literally was developed without spaceflight what the fuck are you talking about mate lmao

            Indirectly ARPAnet was partially created to respond to threats from spaceflight, specifically nuclear ICBMs. However we don’t even need to argue that one because there’s a much more direct link I’m referring to.

            IBM has been making computation devices since 1911… 8 years after the first human flight on a plane. They made punch-cards for the Nazi’s to track people for fucks sake.

            Why is it the computer that you’re posting from isn’t the size of a large room or even a full sized refrigerator? Miniaturization is the answer. Why did miniaturization of computers happen? Spaceflight.

            “NASA gave IBM $26.6million to build a computer capable of running the necessary programs, and the specifications were brutal. IBM had to create a system capable of proving the feasibility of docking in space, all packed into a box no bigger than 19in high, 15in wide, 13in deep, and weighing less than 60 pounds.”

            source

            That’s what the fuck I’m talking about mate.

        • Snot FlickermanEnglish
          4•3 months ago

          So the H1B system is a mess entirely of it’s own and that happens to folks who came via H1B visas at any job.

          You’re not convincing me that we should feel bad for these specific people at SpaceX because of a systemic issue. I feel bad for them due to the nature of the system, not because they chose to work at SpaceX, specifically. That was still a choice, and while they’re still in their parent country, still a decision they can say “no” to. It’s a choice borne of exploitation at its core, and the fact that SpaceX employs so many H1B workers should be viewed as another negative against the company instead of another reason to let the company off the hook.