{"id":614567,"date":"2025-12-05T21:08:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T21:08:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/614567\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T21:08:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T21:08:15","slug":"eu-hits-musks-x-with-140m-fine-for-deceptive-blue-tick-ad-transparency-european-union-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/614567\/","title":{"rendered":"EU hits Musk\u2019s X with $140m fine for \u2018deceptive\u2019 blue tick, ad transparency | European Union News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Landmark penalty triggers US fury as Brussels enforces first digital transparency sanction.<\/p>\n

The European Union has slapped a 120 million euro ($140m) penalty on Elon Musk\u2019s social media platform X for breaching digital transparency rules, igniting a transatlantic clash over tech regulation.<\/p>\n

Brussels announced the fine on Friday in its first enforcement action under the Digital Services Act, legislation designed to rein in social media companies.<\/p>\n

Recommended Stories list of 2 itemsend of list<\/p>\n

The decision has deepened tensions with Washington, where officials accused Europe of targeting US businesses under the guise of protecting users.<\/p>\n

European regulators found X guilty of three violations after a two-year investigation. The platform\u2019s paid blue checkmark system, which Brussels said \u201cdeceives users\u201d about account authenticity, drew a 45 million euro ($52.4m) penalty.<\/p>\n

X was fined another 35 million euros ($40.7m) for failing to maintain transparent advertising records that would help identify scams and fake political advertisements, while blocking researchers from accessing public data cost the company 40 million euros ($46.6m).<\/p>\n

\n

Today, we fined X for non-compliance with transparency obligations under the DSA.<\/p>\n

We’re holding X accountable for:
\ud83d\udd39Deceptive design of its \u2018blue checkmark\u2019
\ud83d\udd39Lack of transparency of its advertising repository
\ud83d\udd39Failure to provide access to public data for researchers<\/p>\n

\u2193<\/p>\n

\u2014 European Commission (@EU_Commission) December 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The decision risks further inflaming trade negotiations between Brussels and Washington, where the Trump administration has demanded Europe abandon regulations it views as protectionist.<\/p>\n

US Vice President JD Vance lashed out at Brussels even before the announcement, claiming the platform was being punished \u201cfor not engaging in censorship\u201d.<\/p>\n

Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the fine \u201can attack on all American tech platforms and the American people by foreign governments\u201d.<\/p>\n

Commenting on Rubio\u2019s post, Musk wrote, \u201cAbsolutely\u201d. Commenting on the EU\u2019s post announcing the fine, Musk wrote: \u201cBulls***\u201d.<\/p>\n

But EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen denied the ruling amounted to censorship.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads and shutting out researchers have no place online in the EU,\u201d she said, adding that Brussels was simply \u201cholding X responsible for undermining users\u2019 rights.\u201d<\/p>\n

European politicians expressed relief after what many saw as prolonged delays in enforcement.<\/p>\n

French Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff described it as a \u201cmagnificent announcement,\u201d while Germany\u2019s digital minister, Karsten Wildberger, said it showed Brussels was \u201cdetermined to enforce\u201d its rules.<\/p>\n

Critics argued the penalty was too modest.<\/p>\n

The fine represents a fraction of the 5.9 billion euros ($6.9bn) maximum allowed under the act, which permits sanctions of up to 6 percent of global revenue.<\/p>\n

Politico reported that Cori Crider, executive director of the Future of Technology Institute, said, \u201cMusk will moan in public \u2013 in private, he will be doing cartwheels.\u201d<\/p>\n

X now has between 60 and 90 days to submit compliance plans addressing the violations or face additional periodic penalties.<\/p>\n

The company did not respond to requests for comment by the Reuters news agency.<\/p>\n

The ruling lands amid broader investigations into 10 major platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.<\/p>\n

Chinese-owned TikTok avoided penalties on Friday by pledging to improve its advertising transparency.<\/p>\n

Brussels continues to probe whether X has failed to combat illegal content and information manipulation, violations that could trigger substantially larger fines.<\/p>\n