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EU Fines X €120 Million Under Digital Services Act as Platform Halts Commission Ad Account

Brussels cites deceptive blue badges and transparency failures, and a wider probe into content and information manipulation remains active.

Overview

  • X received the first enforcement penalty under the EU’s DSA for misleading paid blue checks, weak advertising transparency, and limiting accredited researchers’ access.
  • X confirmed it suspended the European Commission’s advertiser account, with product lead Nikita Bier alleging misuse of an ad-tool feature, a claim the Commission disputes.
  • Elon Musk called for the abolition of the EU, while Commission officials labeled his statements “completely mad” and stressed the fine is unrelated to censorship.
  • High-profile U.S. figures, including President Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Marco Rubio, criticized the move as an attack on American platforms.
  • The EU’s broader DSA investigation into illegal content and information manipulation on X continues and could lead to far larger fines or operational restrictions.