EU Fines Social Media Platform X $140 Million for Deceptive Verification and Lack of Transparency

The European Union has fined social media platform X, formerly Twitter, approximately $140 million for violating its Digital Services Act (DSA). The penalty addresses two major breaches of the bloc's online content rules. Regulators stated the platform misled users with its "verified account" system. After Elon Musk purchased the company, the platform's iconic blue checkmarks were made available to any paying subscriber, not just vetted, authentic accounts. This practice, the EU found, deceived users about the true identity and credibility of account holders. A second violation involved a lack of transparency. The EU cited X for failing to provide a searchable database of its advertisements, as required. The platform also did not give researchers adequate access to its public data, hindering the study of online risks and disinformation. The fines underscore the EU's strict enforcement of the DSA, which aims to create a safer digital space. X can appeal the decision, but it must now comply with the regulations to avoid further penalties.