05.12.2025 20:15
The European Union has fined the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, 120 million euros due to its "misleading blue tick" application and lack of transparency. This decision, made under the Digital Services Act (DSA), marks the EU's first major sanction against large technology companies.
The European Union has fined the social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, 120 million euros for "misleading blue tick application" and "transparency violations." This penalty, issued under the Digital Services Act (DSA), marks the EU's first official sanction against X.
The decision was announced during a period when discussions regarding American technology companies have reignited between Washington and Brussels. While U.S. officials argue that Europe discriminates against tech giants, the EU stated that the fine is entirely related to transparency requirements.
WHY DID THE EU IMPOSE A FINE?
The EU Commission found X, formerly known as Twitter, to have a misleading blue tick application. It deemed the blue badge, which was given to anyone who paid without requiring identity verification after Musk took over the platform, as "a confusing system."
Brussels identified shortcomings such as a lack of advertising transparency, blocking researchers' access to platform data, and non-compliance with the information-sharing rules mandated by the DSA.
X HAS BEEN GIVEN A DEADLINE
The Commission granted Musk's platform 60 days to regulate the blue tick issue and 90 days for advertising transparency and data access.
If X fails to present a convincing plan to the EU within this timeframe, additional fines will be on the table.
INVESTIGATIONS ARE NOT OVER
Although the EU has completed its review initiated in December 2023 and imposed the first fine, the process for X is not over. A separate investigation regarding the spread of illegal content and manipulation allegations against the platform is still ongoing.