EU Warns Twitter of Direct Oversight After Brussels Office Closure
European Union regulators warn they may directly oversee Twitter's compliance with the Digital Services Act after Elon Musk shuts down the company's Brussels policy office.
Elon Musk's Twitter closes its Brussels office, a move that draws sharp criticism from European Union regulators. The office houses staffers who focus on EU digital policy and work closely with the European Commission. The departure of the last two remaining policy executives leads to the complete disbandment of this strategically located team.
The closure occurs just as the EU prepares to implement its Digital Services Act, a major update to the bloc's digital rulebook. This shutdown represents either a major strategic blunder by Musk or a deliberate snub of European regulations. The lack of a policy presence in Brussels severely limits Twitter's ability to interact with the lawmakers and enforcers who oversee its regional operations.
In response to these layoffs, the EU executive issues a clear warning that it may appoint itself as the direct overseer of Twitter's compliance with the incoming rules. An EU commissioner recently visits Twitter's Dublin office to deliver this message in person. If the EU takes on this direct oversight role, Twitter faces significantly heightened regulatory risk in Europe.