In one fell swoop, a strategy shift at one of the big tech companies (Meta) has effectively ended an era of content-based regulation online. In an apparent capitulation to the return of Donald Trump and the rise of Elon Musk, Meta has joined X in consigning the “messy” work of moderating political speech to the “too hard” basket and favouring a hands-off, more anarchist approach.

The decision is causing considerable anguish. It certainly looks like a declaration of hostilities against the EU model of platform regulation, which places a range of proactive measures on social media companies to report on and manage “systemic risks”, such as risks to election integrity.