Overview
- Brussels found X in breach for a paid blue check design that misleads on account authenticity, inadequate ad transparency, and barriers to accredited researchers’ access to public data.
- The sanction totals €120 million, allocated as €45 million for the verification design, €40 million for the ad repository deficiencies, and €35 million for restricting researcher access.
- X must detail how it will fix the blue-check issue within 60 business days and submit a broader plan within 90 business days addressing advertising transparency and research data access.
- The Commission warned that coercive periodic penalties could follow if X fails to comply, and separate probes into illegal-content handling and its recommendation algorithm remain open.
- U.S. officials condemned the move, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling it an attack on American platforms, and Elon Musk denouncing the decision and urging the EU’s abolition in posts on X.