Twitter’s Brussels office shutdown leaves people asking questions | Digit

After the Musk takeover, Twitter has been in the news for one reason or the other. This time, the reason why the microblogging platform has caught everyone’s attention is because of reportedly shutting down its Brussels office.

In case you didn’t know, after a long-drawn legal battle between the outgoing top brass of Twitter and business tycoon, Elon Musk, Twitter’s control has shifted to the hands of Elon Musk. Wasting no time after moving into the office, Musk has been making changes to Twitter’s operations that are being loved by some and frowned upon by others. And, this move of shutting down the Brussels office is one of them. The reports of this first surfaced in a Financial Times report published on November 24.

FT exclusive: Twitter has disbanded its entire Brussels office, sparking concerns among EU officials about whether the social media platform will abide by the bloc’s stringent new rules on policing online content https://t.co/GT36VVj3S3 pic.twitter.com/hOCO0phdpu

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) November 24, 2022

Will Twitter follow the laws?

A report in the Financial Times states that Twitter’s Brussels office had been the centre for all things that were related to the Union’s digital policy. The Twitter staff at the Brussels office was actively involved in the process of digital policy-making for the EU and worked with important officials from the European Commission. While it may look like the benefits reaped by the presence of a Twitter office in Brussels were going only the EU’s way, Twitter had a lot to gain from it as well.

There had been news doing rounds on the internet about the imminent shutdown of the Brussels office. On November 14, Stephen Turner, who according to his Twitter and LinkedIn Bio was a part of the top brass at Twitter’s Brussels office, finally said goodbyes to the company, announcing his departure in a Tweet.

After 6 years I am officially retired from Twitter

From starting the office in Brussels to building an awesome team it has been an amazing ride. Privileged & honoured to have the best colleagues in the world great partners, and never a dull moment

Onto the next adventure 

— stephen turner (@sturner) November 14, 2022

Being in such close contact with the institution that is responsible for making laws in the EU, meant that Twitter could easily get ahead of any regulatory changes that were in the works, ensuring that it is ahead of the curve in the space. However, given that Twitter’s Brussels office is no longer operational, the brand will have to look for other ways to ensure that its policies are in place. Additionally, there has been an indication from the side of the Commission that there might be some pushback coming Twitter’s way. The basis of this lies in the fact highlighted in the Financial Times report, which is given the cutting down of the ties, will the platform follow the new, stricter rules that are being put in place?

For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page.