Elon Musk’s social media platform, X, is under fire from the European Union for allegedly breaching online content rules. The EU’s tech regulator has accused X of allowing “verified” blue tick accounts to potentially deceive users, as anyone can pay for a blue tick without their identity being verified.
The investigation, conducted under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), could result in X being fined up to 6% of its global annual turnover and being forced to change its operations within the bloc. In response, Elon Musk, who purchased the platform for $44 billion in 2022, criticized the DSA as “misinformation” and claimed it amounted to “censored speech.”
X’s chief executive, Linda Yaccarino, defended the company’s practices, stating that a democratised system allowing everyone in Europe to access verification is better than only a privileged few being verified. The EU Commission’s review of X found a lack of transparency around advertising and a failure to provide data for research use as required by EU rules.
The Commission also criticized X for its design and operation of blue tick verified accounts, stating that it does not correspond to industry practice and deceives users. The tech regulator highlighted the negative impact of allowing anyone to obtain a verified status, as it hinders users’ ability to make informed decisions about the authenticity of accounts and content.
While X has the opportunity to defend itself against the findings or commit to changes to comply with regulations, the Commission emphasized its commitment to ensuring a safe and fair online environment for European citizens. The investigation into X’s practices regarding dissemination of illegal content and combating fake news is ongoing. If the EU’s view is confirmed, fines and significant changes may be imposed on X.