tech platforms such as X have “immense power” to shape public opinion in Europe a specialist in media and communications regulation and policy at the London School of Economics.“It’s not so beyond the realm of possibility that (Musk) could flip a country politically,” said Tambini “That in turn would create a completely different balance of power” inside the EU as far-right governments gain further influence in the already fractious 27-nation bloc Those governments could potentially help Musk undo or water down regulations he didn’t like who leads Trump’s efforts to slash the size of the U.S has publicly criticized European business regulations calling them bad for growth and a form of censorship He has been under investigation by the EU for more than a year for potential breaches of a recent European law intended to ensure social platforms such as X police illegal content The decision is still pending.Under the EU’s Digital Services Act X could face a fine of 6% of its annual global revenue for failing to tackle illegal content and disinformation or follow transparency rules The case is a major test of the EU’s ability to enforce rules on American social media companies as it seeks to tackle illegal content and disinformation.There have been other signs of regulatory concern over Musk’s platform in Europe.On February 7 a German court ruled that X must release information enabling researchers to track the spread of election-swaying information on the platform under EU laws French prosecutors said they were investigating claims that X distorted its algorithms to manipulate discourse.On a Tesla earnings call in January Musk complained of Europe’s regulations while discussing seeking approval for the company’s “Full Self Driving” technology “There’s this joke: America innovates; Europe regulates,” he said on the call there’s too many refs on the field.’”European governments are wary of Musk’s growing status as “a far-right rock star,” said Asma Mhalla a French political scientist specializing in the politics of big tech She suspects his ultimate aim is to weaken European regulations and expand U.S especially given his role as a senior Trump advisor.“The real agenda is making the U.S the biggest power in the coming century,” she said.The White House declined to comment on Musk’s role in America’s Europe policy.Greg Swenson said fighting to dismantle burdensome European regulations would help all businesses “He's doing it for the greater good.”WAR ON ‘WOKE’In his criticisms of Europe Musk often shares unverified information on X while amplifying known spreaders of misinformation the Reuters review of his posts found.Most of his posts concern mass immigration and what he portrays as free-speech restrictions He also criticized Europe’s declining birth rates and transgender rights preferring to amplify a small ecosystem of hard-right accounts.One such account is PeterSweden7 run by journalist and political commentator Peter Imanuelsen who has described the September 2001 attacks on America by al Qaeda as an inside job and the moon landings as fake.Musk has promoted at least half a dozen of Imanuelsen’s misleading posts he reposted Imanuelsen’s claim that a man was sentenced to 20 months in prison for a Facebook post without explaining that the man’s post had urged people to attack a hotel housing refugees.Imanuelsen told Reuters it is not possible to include all detailed information in a single post and he no longer believes in conspiracy theories.Another account Musk regularly interacts with on European issues belongs to Tommy Robinson a right-wing agitator with fraud and assault convictions whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon He is currently in prison for defying a London court order.Musk has called for Robinson’s release reposting a false claim that he is a “political prisoner,” while Robinson’s account said in a January 20 post that the billionaire was paying some of his legal fees.Robinson’s lawyer did not respond to a request for comment.For Musk the owners of such accounts are potential foot soldiers in what the right frames as a battle between restrictive left-wing politicians and right-wing free speech advocates a researcher at the University of Washington who has studied Musk’s social media networks.Influencers “are good conduits to project his worldview.”IMPACT ON CAR SALESWhile Musk’s influence on European politics is unclear whose sales are struggling in Europe after a 10.8% drop in 2024 a period when the market was down only 1.3%.A late January survey conducted by an electric vehicle review website found that 59% of Britons who either own EVs or intend to purchase one wouldn’t buy a Tesla because of Musk An anti-Tesla campaign is underway on X under the hashtags #teslatakedown and #swasticars.Musk’s opinions add to Tesla’s headaches there were only 25 mainstream EV models in Britain Today there are 133 as Chinese brands flood the market with new more affordable electric cars.I wouldn't write them off yet but they do need something fresher,” said Tim Albertsen He declined to discuss the impact of Musk’s views on sales but said Tesla’s model “lineup is quite weak.”Ben Kilbey who runs a communications and market intelligence firm in Britain has owned a Model Y for three years but is getting rid of it because of Musk.“I love my Tesla “But I don’t want to be associated with Musk’s politics or public statements.”(This story has been refiled to fix the spelling to 'Albertsen,' not 'Albertson,' in paragraph 44)Additional reporting by Thomas Escritt in Berlin and Chris Kirkham in Los Angeles Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab , opens new tab Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. , opens new tabScreen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. © 2025 Reuters. 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