Overview
- The European Commission fined X €120 million after a two-year probe, citing a deceptive paid blue checkmark, gaps in ad repository transparency, and restricted researcher access to public data.
- Regulators set 60 days for X to present fixes for the blue-check issue and 90 days to address ad-transparency and research-access obligations, warning of periodic penalties for failure to comply.
- Elon Musk rejected the ruling, posted that the European Union should be abolished, and earlier labeled the decision “bullshit” in replies to the Commission’s announcement.
- X terminated the European Commission’s advertising account, with head of product Nikita Bier alleging the EU used an Ad Composer exploit to boost reach, adding that the flaw was patched.
- Senior U.S. officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, FCC Chair Brendan Carr, and Ambassador to the EU Andrew Puzder criticized the fine, while X retains the option to appeal.