There are legitimate arguments to be made about Twitter — and social media companies more generally — being regulated on a national level. Just because I, as an American (albeit an expat), grew up and lived under a certain constitutional order, doesn't mean I have the right to insist that the influence of that same constitutional order be placed upon members of other nations.

It is true that I believe the American conception of free speech to be a universal good that would benefit every citizen of every nation.  However, I also believe in the right of self-determination. No American ideal or constitutional principle — no matter how universal or virtuous I believe that principle to be — should be forced upon a citizenry that hasn't itself fully embraced that principle. They have the right to say "No, we disagree." They have the right to vote that way. Period.

I personally would find such a vote to be unfortunate, and I would actively try to persuade the members of that citizenry to vote otherwise. However, in the end, neither I nor any company should have a de facto veto over that vote.

This is all true.

However.

The primary criticism of the EU — and the MEPs that comprise it — is that they are a group of unelected, unaccountable technocrats who thirst only for power and influence, and who wield that power and influence without any direct check from regular, every day citizens. Yes, the EU's defenders argue against this criticism, but it is undeniable that this is the characterization of MEPs made by the EU's most ardent critics.

So when Thierry Breton, the current European Commissioner for Internal Market, tweets out this doozy in response to Elon Musk's recent acquisition of Twitter...

...it comes off as a little tone deaf. At the very least it displays a lack of political acumen; an inability to "read the room," so to speak.

In his tweet, Breton doesn't come off as a purpose-driven "man of the people" reaffirming the EU's right to self-determination. His tweet doesn't read as a principled rejection of the American constitutional order being foisted upon Europeans.  Instead, his tweet reads far more like an ego-driven narcissist who — upon catching the slightest hint that his power to determine what constitutes 'acceptable speech' was being called into question — felt compelled to let Elon Musk know who was really in charge.

This doesn't read like a man standing up for European values. It reads like an entitled, thin-skinned ego-maniac reminding the world who's boss. It reads like Elon is saying, "You may do as you want." And Breton is replying, "No, you will do as I tell you."

The rules of the EU are the rules of the EU. Breton's tweet doesn't influence that fact in one direction or another. This display of transcontinental genitalia-measuring accomplishes nothing beyond stoking the flames of controversy at a moment when tensions are already very high ...and massaging the fragile egos of small men in high places.