November 17, 2025 — 6.38am Save EU agencies fined Apple and Meta earlier this year over concerns related to competition and content, while they have also made findings against Musk’s social media platform, X. The EU investigation into X continues. ‘Network of fact-checkers’ Von der Leyen last week unveiled the new plan to regulate content, called the European Democracy Shield, with the promise that it would include fact-checkers to verify news and tougher protocols for online content. Loading “An independent European Network of Fact-Checkers will be set up to boost fact-checking capacity in all EU official languages,” the plan says. “The European Digital Media Observatory will develop new independent monitoring and analytical capabilities for situational awareness on elections or in situations of crises.” This will include measures on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in elections. Loading When von der Leyen declared that democracy was the foundation of freedom and the new measures would protect those values, Musk questioned her authority as an elected leader. “If democracy is the foundation of freedom, surely your position as leader of the EU should be elected directly by the people?” he posted on X. “The leader of the EU should be elected by the people of the EU, not appointed by a committee!” The commission president leads the executive arm of the union and is nominated by the European Council, the peak group of 28 national leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Von der Leyen, previously a federal minister in Germany, gained nomination in 2019 and again in 2024. The decisions were endorsed by the European Parliament in secret ballots, giving her majority support among 720 elected members from across the EU. Musk is ranked by news service Bloomberg as the world’s richest man, with a net worth of $US431 billion. He is followed by Oracle founder Larry Ellison, with $US280 billion, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, with $US256 billion. Next test While tumbling Tesla sales measure the rejection of Musk, the next test of his influence in Europe will be in elections that pit his preferred parties against traditional conservatives and social democrats. Musk has supported the Netherlands’ far-right politician Geert Wilders, but his party stalled at the national elections last month, and the community swung to centrist party Democrats 66 and its leader, Rob Jetten, who is in a strong position to become the next prime minister. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel speaks during an election event at the party’s Berlin headquarters. Credit: