The European Union has issued a $140 million fine against X, the social-media platform owned by Elon Musk, after investigators concluded that the company repeatedly violated the bloc's strict rules on hate speech, misinformation, and online transparency. The penalty is the first major enforcement action under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping law designed to hold large tech platforms accountable for harmful and illegal content.
According to the European Commission, X failed to comply with multiple core obligations of the DSA. Regulators found that the platform's paid verification system — which allows users to purchase a blue checkmark — amounted to a "deceptive design" practice. The system, they said, misled users by suggesting that purchased checkmarks indicated authenticity, even though identity verification was not required. Officials argued that this design contributed to the spread of fake accounts, misinformation, and deceptive political messaging, especially during major news events.
