EU fines X 120 million euros for deceptive blue check practices

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 2 hours ago |  JP Global Monitoring Desk

The European Commission fined X 120 million euros under the Digital Services Act for deceptive verification practices, ad transparency lapses, and blocking researcher data access.

Summary

BRUSSELS, Belgium — The European Commission has imposed a 120 million euro fine on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, finding that the company violated key transparency requirements of the European Union’s Digital Services Act. The penalty is the first non-compliance fine issued under the bloc’s landmark digital regulation, following a two-year investigation into multiple areas of concern. The Commission said that X’s use of its paid blue checkmark system misled users by suggesting accounts were verified for authenticity when no meaningful identity verification occurred. The investigation also found deficiencies in the platform’s advertising transparency tools and barriers to researchers seeking access to public data. 

Enforcement under the Digital Services Act

According to the Commission, X’s blue checkmark system constitutes a deceptive design practice because it allows accounts to appear verified without verifying identity, potentially exposing users to scams and impersonation. The DSA sets strict rules prohibiting design practices that mislead users about the nature of platform services. In addition to deceptive verification practices, officials identified shortcomings in X’s advertising repository, noting that it failed to provide clear information about ad content, topics, and paying entities. Researchers also encountered undue barriers to accessing the platform’s public data, which is meant to be obtainable under the DSA for independent analysis. 

Company response and broader implications

X has been given a deadline to present corrective measures, with the Commission specifying time frames for addressing the blue check system and other transparency requirements. In public posts following the ruling, X’s leadership criticized the decision. The fine underscores growing regulatory pressure on major tech platforms to adhere to transparency and accountability standards in the EU. The case is seen as a watershed moment for DSA enforcement, signaling that regulators are prepared to levy significant penalties when platforms fail to comply with the law’s obligations. 

KEY POINTS:

• The European Commission fined X 120 million euros for violating the Digital Services Act transparency obligations
• Violations include deceptive blue checkmark practices, a lack of advertising transparency, and barriers to accessing public research data
• This is the first non-compliance penalty under the DSA, highlighting strict enforcement of EU digital rules
• X must submit corrective plans within specified deadlines to address violations
• The company publicly rejected the ruling, framing it as regulatory overreach

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting by international technology regulatory correspondents based on official European Commission statements and verified news sources.