The European Commission has imposed a 120 million euros (140 million dollars) fine on social media platform X, from Elon Musk, for violating transparency obligations, marking the latest clash between the bloc and major U.S. tech companies.
According to the Commission, the platform committed several breaches, including the “deceptive design” of its blue checkmark verification system, a lack of clarity in its advertising repository, and the failure to provide researchers with access to public data. The findings stem from a two-year investigation conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the regulatory framework adopted in 2022 to oversee online platforms operating in the European Union.
The ruling represents the first official non-compliance decision issued under the DSA, underscoring the EU’s determination to hold digital platforms accountable for user protection and transparency.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said the platform’s practices contradicted core principles of the bloc.
“Deceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU,” she said.
As part of the decision, X must present a plan within 60 days addressing the issues related to its “deceptive” blue checkmarks, and within 90 days submit a strategy to resolve deficiencies in its ads repository and researcher access to public data. The Commission warned that failure to comply with these requirements could result in additional periodic penalties. The obligations add to a broader set of rules designed to strengthen transparency in content moderation, online advertising, and user protection throughout the EU’s digital ecosystem.
The fine comes just one day after Brussels announced a separate investigation into whether Meta violated antitrust rules with its new policy allowing AI providers access to WhatsApp data. The developments reflect a growing wave of regulatory scrutiny targeting major tech firms, even as the United States has urged Europe to soften or reconsider key legislation such as the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and upcoming AI regulations. With this enforcement action, the European Commission signals its commitment to upholding its regulatory framework despite mounting transatlantic pressures.
