EU Fines Elon Musk's X €120M for Digital Services Act Breaches: Deceptive Blue Checks & Data Access Issues

EU Slaps Elon Musk's X with €120 Million Fine for Digital Services Act Violations

The European Union has levied a substantial €120 million fine against Elon Musk's social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), citing multiple violations of the bloc's stringent Digital Services Act (DSA). The decision, announced by the European Commission, concludes a two-year investigation into the platform's practices.

Deceptive Blue Checkmarks Under Scrutiny

At the heart of the regulatory action are X's controversial blue checkmarks. Regulators deemed their implementation a "deceptive design," asserting that it could mislead users and potentially expose them to scams and various forms of manipulation. This particular aspect highlights the EU's focus on user protection and transparency within digital services.

Ad Transparency and Researcher Access Shortcomings

Beyond the blue checkmarks, X also failed to meet requirements concerning its advertising database. The platform was found deficient in providing comprehensive and accessible information regarding ads displayed on its service, a crucial element for transparency under the DSA. Furthermore, X was cited for not adequately facilitating access for researchers to its public data, hindering independent scrutiny of the platform's impact and operations.

Enforcing the Digital Services Act

The Digital Services Act is a landmark piece of EU legislation designed to create a safer, more predictable, and trustworthy online environment across its 27 member nations. It imposes wide-ranging obligations on large online platforms to combat illegal content, protect fundamental rights, and provide more accountability. This hefty fine against X underscores the European Commission's commitment to rigorously enforcing these new digital regulations and holding tech giants accountable for their adherence to the law.