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EU Slams X with Hefty Fine, Igniting Free Speech Debate
LONDON – Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, has been hit with a substantial 120 million euro ($140 million) fine by European Union regulators. The penalty, announced Friday, stems from breaches of the bloc’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and is poised to reignite tensions with Washington over free speech concerns.
This marks the first time the EU has issued a non-compliance decision under the DSA, a comprehensive rulebook designed to compel online platforms to take greater responsibility for user protection and the removal of harmful or illegal content. The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, initiated its investigation into X two years ago.
The Commission cited three specific breaches of the DSA’s transparency requirements as the basis for the fine. The decision immediately drew criticism from U.S. officials, with President Donald Trump’s administration previously vocal about what it perceives as Brussels targeting American tech companies.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took to X to express his disapproval, stating, “The European Commission’s $140 million fine isn’t just an attack on @X, it’s an attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments.
The days of censoring Americans online are over.” Musk later echoed Rubio’s sentiments.
Vice President JD Vance also weighed in, accusing the Commission of trying to fine X “for not engaging in censorship” and asserting that the EU “should be supporting free speech not attacking American companies over garbage.”
However, EU officials firmly denied any intention to silence Big Tech. Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier emphasized that the rules are not aimed at any specific company or country, but rather are “based on a process, democratic process.” X has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Regulators had previously detailed their concerns in mid-2024. A key point of contention involves X’s blue checkmarks.
The Commission argues that their current implementation constitutes “deceptive design practices” that could expose users to scams and manipulation. Prior to Musk’s acquisition in 2022, these badges were primarily reserved for verified, influential accounts.
Now, anyone paying $8 per month can receive one, regardless of actual verification. This, according to the Commission, makes it “difficult for users to judge the authenticity of accounts and content they engage with.”
Further breaches include X’s shortcomings in transparency regarding its ad database and the creation of “unnecessary barriers” for researchers attempting to access public data. This obstruction, regulators argue, hinders vital research into systemic risks faced by European users.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security, and democracy, underscored the importance of the DSA, stating, “Deceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU. The DSA protects users.”
In a separate development Friday, the Commission concluded a DSA case involving TikTok’s ad database after the video-sharing platform committed to implementing changes for full transparency.