Overview
- Brussels found X’s paid blue check design misleading, cited shortcomings in its public ad repository, and faulted barriers to researcher access to public data.
- Officials said the fine was calculated for proportionality and severity and sits well below the law’s maximum penalty of 6% of global turnover.
- X has 60 days to set out fixes for the verification badge and, according to detailed guidance reported by outlets, 90 days to present plans on ads transparency and researcher data access.
- Separate EU probes remain open into X’s handling of illegal content and changes to its recommendation algorithm, leaving the company exposed to further action.
- U.S. political figures, including senior officials, criticized the move, with public statements framing the decision as a broad strike at American tech companies.