The Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, Volker Wissing (FDP), met with Twitter boss Elon Musk in the USA.Image: IMAGO/Political Moments
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The year has only just begun and for many Twitter users it feels like satire. Many are probably still digesting the New Year’s Eve video by Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD). She talks about the war in Ukraine and special impressions and encounters in the same breath – and all that with cracking firecrackers and fireworks in the background.
The Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport, Volker Wissing, apparently thought: “Hold my beer, Mrs. Lambrecht”. The FDP politician flies to San Francisco and meets with Elon Musk to discuss fake news.
Wissing and Musk talk about disinformation
In addition, Wissing posts a joint photo on his Twitter account. Visibly pleased, he thanks Musk for a “constructive conversation”. Both agree that the platforms’ voluntary commitments against disinformation must be strictly observed.
Until the Digital Services Act (DSA) comes into force. This law on digital services is a regulation of the European Union that, among other things, determines liability and security regulations for digital platforms.
It was only at the end of December that Wissing was critical of Musk in an interview with the “Berliner Morgenpost”. He even considered leaving the Twitter short message service. “I am concerned about developments since the takeover by Elon Musk”says the FDP politician to the newspaper.
And now Wissing is visibly pleased to be photographed with Musk?
Strong criticism of the meeting between Wissing and Musk
“It’s not satire, I repeat, it’s not satire and it’s only day four of the new year,” wrote a Twitter user, apparently shocked. Because Musk is criticized for not taking action against the rising wave of disinformation on the “Twitter” platform.
Green politician Günther Heilrath writes under the post from Wissing that Musk is doing everything so that he cannot implement the “DSA” purely in terms of personnel.” According to Heilrath, Musk is not showing any signs of wanting to take action against disinformation – on the contrary. At the same time, he wallows in QAnon conspiracy theories. “He doesn’t take you seriously,” he says to the digital minister.
Because the new Twitter boss Musk likes to cuddle with the right bubble at the moment. Musk himself is spreading wild conspiracy theories, including about the husband of top US politician Nancy Pelosi. He then deleted the tweet. Musk repeatedly attracts attention with borderline and sometimes tasteless tweets.
Elon Musk voted on Twitter to resign as Twitter boss. Image: imago / Wolfgang Maria Weber
With “collective comments” against disinformation
In the fight against disinformation, Musk rejects content moderation and relies on another means: the community should provide misleading tweets with more context. In other words, users should make comments on misleading tweets. Since December 2022, such “Community Notes” (German: “collective notes”) are visible worldwide.
The fact that Digital Minister Wissing now agrees with Musk of all people to take strict action against disinformation seems “cringe” and implausible to many Twitter users. Green politician Renate Künast comments on the post with two words: “Embarrassing photo”. Deputy federal chairman of the Jusos, Lasse Rebbin, says in the comments, “Wissing is known for being honest and never changing his mind.”
For the CDU politician Dennis Radtke, the action is “ridiculous”. According to him, Wissing is not even willing to accept co-determination and unions in Germany. “Why would he feel attached to anything?” he wrote on Twitter. “Two found each other,” writes a Twitter user.
Elon Musk is also the head of US electric car manufacturer Tesla. Image: Ding Ting/XinHua/dpa / Ding Ting/XinHua
Wissing is also Minister of Transport and announced in an interview with the in November 2022 Bavarian radio: “Now the ramp-up of electromobility begins” – Tesla boss Musk will like that.
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