EU Fines Musk's Platform X: A Digital Regulation Showdown

The European Union has fined Elon Musk's social media platform X 120 million euros for non-compliance with the Digital Services Act. The EU's investigation found that X violated transparency requirements, notably through deceptive design in blue checkmarks and shortcomings in ad database practices and data access for researchers.

The European Union has handed down a hefty 120 million euro fine to Elon Musk's social media platform X, known formerly as Twitter. This penalty was issued for the platform's failure to adhere to the comprehensive rules set by the Digital Services Act (DSA).

Following a two-year investigation, the European Commission concluded that X breached three critical transparency requirements of the DSA. The Commission criticized the social media platform's blue checkmarks, citing their "deceptive design" that could potentially lead users into scams and manipulative practices.

Further violations included inadequacies in X's ad database and its approach to granting researchers access to public data. The decision may escalate tensions with U.S. political figures who have criticized European digital regulations and warned of potential retaliatory actions.

(With inputs from agencies.)