The EU fines Elon Musk's company 120 million euros for violating digital content rules
EU fines X €120m under the Digital Services Act for misleading verification and transparency breaches.
The social media platform X, owned by Elon Musk, faces a massive fine of €120 million ($140 million) imposed by the tech regulators of the European Union for violating several provisions of the European Digital Services Act (Digital Services Act, or DSA).
A Major First Sanction Under the DSA
This fine represents the first major penalty imposed under this historic legislative framework. In an announcement made on Friday, the European Commission justified this sanction by citing several infractions committed by X, including platform features deemed misleading and a lack of transparency in search practices.
Violations Ranging from Paid Verification to Lack of Data Transparency
Regulators highlighted that one of the violations concerned the misleading design of the verification system with a blue badge. This badge, now linked to paid subscriptions instead of identity validation, was described by the EU as "misleading and potentially harmful."
The Commission also criticized X for not maintaining transparent advertising archives and for restricting researchers' access to publicly accessible data on the platform.
Revived Diplomatic Tensions
This decision risks exacerbating diplomatic tensions between Brussels and Washington. American officials, notably under the Trump administration, had already criticized Europe's regulatory approach towards big tech companies, which they consider as unfair discrimination against American companies and a threat to freedom of expression.
However, the European Commission defended its position by stating that the application of the DSA does not consider the nationality of the companies involved. It emphasized that this legislation aims to promote online responsibility, protect users, and ensure transparency in digital operations. According to the EU, these standards are gradually becoming global benchmarks.
"The DSA does not discriminate based on the origin of companies," the Commission stated, clarifying that the sanctions reflect Europe's commitment to protecting democratic values and ensuring responsible digital governance.
A Decision That Could Set a Precedent
This fine marks an important step in the implementation of the EU's new regulatory regime. It could, in the future, serve as a precedent for similar actions against other platforms that do not fully comply with the law.
Geoffrey G.
