EU fines X $140M for DSA violations
The European Commission fined Elon Musk’s X about $140 million (120 million euros) for breaching the EU’s Digital Services Act, finding the platform used a deceptive paid blue‑check design, maintained a poorly functioning ads repository, and failed to provide effective researcher data access — the Commission called this the first non‑compliance decision under the DSA. EC spokesperson Thomas Regnier announced the penalty and contrasted X’s stance with TikTok’s concessions while denying any targeting of U.S. firms; Musk says he will legally challenge the sanctions, and U.S. politicians including Sen. Marco Rubio and JD Vance have criticized the fine as an attack or censorship — the DSA allows fines up to 6% of worldwide annual revenue and X serves over 100 million EU users.
📌 Key Facts
- The European Commission fined X 120 million euros (about $140 million) for breaching the EU Digital Services Act; the Commission says this is the first non-compliance decision issued under the DSA.
- EC spokesperson Thomas Regnier publicly announced the fine, said the action follows a democratic process and denied the EU is targeting U.S. companies, and contrasted X’s refusal to concede with TikTok, which offered concessions to avoid penalties.
- The Commission cited its July 2024 preliminary findings and noted X serves more than 100 million users in the EU.
- The violations identified involve three transparency-related breaches: deceptive design and misleading use of the paid blue verification (no meaningful identity verification), a poorly functioning EU-required ads repository with access barriers and delays, and failure to provide effective data access for independent researchers.
- The Commission and coverage reiterated that the DSA allows maximum penalties of up to 6% of worldwide annual revenue.
- U.S. political figures reacted strongly: Vice President JD Vance called the fine 'censorship' and accused the Commission of trying to punish X for not censoring, while Senator Marco Rubio called the fine an 'attack on the American people'—Elon Musk echoed criticism on X and said he intends to legally challenge the EU sanctions rather than make concessions.
📰 Sources (3)
- European Commission says this is the first non-compliance decision issued since the DSA rolled out.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the fine an attack on the American people; Elon Musk agreed in posts on X.
- Vice President JD Vance accused the Commission of seeking to fine X for not engaging in censorship.
- Commission spokesman Thomas Regnier denied the EU is targeting U.S. companies, saying the action follows a democratic process.
- Further detail on the three transparency breaches: deceptive design of paid blue checkmarks (no meaningful identity verification) and shortcomings in the EU-required ads database, including access barriers and delays.
- EC spokesperson Thomas Regnier publicly announced the fine and contrasted X’s stance with TikTok, saying TikTok offered concessions to avoid penalties.
- Regnier specified violations: misleading use of the blue check mark, a poorly functioning ads repository, and failure to provide effective data access for researchers.
- The article cites the EC’s July 2024 preliminary findings and notes X serves 100+ million users in the EU.
- Elon Musk has stated he intends to legally challenge EU sanctions rather than make concessions.
- The maximum theoretical penalty under the DSA is reiterated as up to 6% of worldwide annual revenue.
- U.S. political reaction included Vice President JD Vance criticizing the EU fine on X as 'censorship.'