Elon Musk’s X first to be fined under EU’s Digital Services Act
In a landmark decision, Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), has become the first major online platform to be penalized under the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA). The European Commission announced on Friday that X would incur a hefty fine of nearly $140 million for failing to comply with the stringent regulations designed to enhance user safety and combat misinformation online. This fine serves as a significant reminder of the EU’s commitment to holding tech giants accountable for their practices and ensuring that they uphold the standards set forth in the DSA.
A substantial portion of the fine—approximately one-third—stems from a controversial decision Musk made shortly after acquiring Twitter in November 2022. He altered the platform’s long-standing verification system, which had previously used a blue checkmark to authenticate the identities of notable users, including celebrities, politicians, and brands. Instead of maintaining this verification process, Musk introduced a subscription model where users could purchase a blue checkmark for $8 per month. This change led to a surge in impersonation accounts, with users creating fake profiles of high-profile individuals, which not only misled the public but also posed significant risks to the integrity of information shared on the platform.
The European Commission’s ruling highlights the challenges that social media platforms face in regulating content and maintaining user trust. The DSA aims to create a safer online environment by imposing strict obligations on platforms regarding transparency, user rights, and the handling of illegal content. X’s failure to address these issues adequately may result in further penalties, including periodic fines if the platform does not implement necessary changes to comply with the DSA. This case underscores the broader implications of regulatory frameworks like the DSA, as they seek to navigate the complexities of digital communication in an era marked by rapid technological advancements and the proliferation of misinformation.
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Elon Musk’s X became the first large online platform fined under the European Union’s Digital Services Act on Friday.
The European Commission
announced
that X would be fined nearly $140 million, with the potential to face “periodic penalty payments” if the platform fails to make corrections.
A third of the fine came from one of the first moves Musk made when taking over Twitter. In November 2022, he changed the platform’s historical use of a blue checkmark to verify the identities of notable users. Instead, Musk started selling blue checks for about $8 per month, immediately prompting a
wave of imposter accounts
pretending to be notable celebrities, officials, and brands.
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