Critics argue that the interview, conducted in English, may have alienated many German listeners and failed to effectively promote the AfD's agenda.

The interview has been criticized as giving undue prominence to the hard-right AfD, raising alarms about its implications for the upcoming federal elections.

The EU is examining whether the interview, which attracted 1.9 million viewers on social media, provided an unfair advantage to Weidel ahead of the Bundestag elections scheduled for February 2025.

Henna Virkkunen, the EU's technology policy head, indicated that they are assessing whether the promotion of the interview constitutes a significant breach of regulations.

During the interview, Weidel made controversial claims, including a false assertion that Adolf Hitler was a communist, which Musk appeared to endorse.

The DSA imposes strict regulations on major online platforms like X and Meta to combat illegal online activities, with potential fines for non-compliance reaching up to 6% of global annual turnover.

Elon Musk's recent interview with Alice Weidel, the AfD's chancellor candidate, has ignited controversy in Germany and is now under investigation by the European Union for potential legal violations.

Concerns have been raised by Germany's economics minister, Robert Habeck, regarding X's potential favoritism towards the AfD during the election campaign, prompting scrutiny from approximately 150 EU officials.

The investigation centers on whether the live-streamed conversation was unfairly promoted, which could violate the Digital Services Act (DSA) aimed at preventing election interference.

The AfD, which has consistently polled over 20%, has faced media marginalization since its inception in 2013, and this interview disrupted the informal media agreement limiting their exposure.

This investigation follows a previous inquiry initiated by the EU concerning content related to Hamas's attacks on Israel, marking a significant enforcement action under the DSA.

Neither Musk's platform X nor the European Commission has responded to inquiries regarding the ongoing situation.