A new report published today says Twitter's Brussels office has been closed after all its staff either resigned or were fired. The development has sparked concerns about whether the company intends to ignore a new law on content moderation.
See also: Elon Musk to Twitter employees: There will be no more layoffs
Background
Last week, the European Parliament passed the Digital Services Act, which legally obliges social media giants to take action against content that is illegal, promotes disinformation or hate speech.
Russian bots created fake news about the invasion and occupation of Ukraine, as well as disinformation about the US election.
Many large companies have offices in Brussels so they can stay informed about new laws and ensure their employees are aware of any legal changes.
See also: Twitter France: 'Boss' Damien Viel leaves the company
Twitter's Brussels office closed
The Financial Times reports that Twitter has closed its Brussels office after every member of its staff resigned or was fired.
According to five sources, Julia Mozer and Dario La Nasa, who were responsible for Twitter's digital policy in Europe, left the company last week.
The executives were responsible for the company's effort to comply with the EU's disinformation code and new rules on how Big Tech must keep users safe online, set out last week in the Digital Services.
Executives from Twitter’s small but vital Brussels office left earlier this month amid company-wide cuts that removed about half of its 7,500 employees. The executives were seen as a crucial conduit to European policymakers.
See also: Elon Musk: Did he fire Twitter employees for being anti-racist?
Since Twitter no longer has any employees in Brussels, it is possible that the company is breaking the law. This could be done either intentionally or unintentionally because it no longer has people on hand to help them understand the new responsibilities .
Information source: 9to5mac.com
