EU Fines Elon Musk's X $140 Million for Digital Services Act Violations
Elon Musk's X platform received a $140 million fine from the European Commission for violating the Digital Services Act, marking the EU's first such penalty for transparency and moderation failures.
Overview
The European Commission has fined Elon Musk's social media platform X nearly $140 million (€120 million) for multiple breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA) within the European Union.
The penalty addresses X's lack of transparency in advertisements, non-compliance with DSA requirements, and failure to provide researchers access to public data, including issues with blue tick badges.
This landmark fine marks the first non-compliance decision under the EU's new Digital Services Act, underscoring the seriousness of the infringements and the EU's commitment to digital standards.
X has 60 days to share information on how it will address compliance issues, particularly the blue checkmark problem, with a 90-day deadline for other concerns to avoid further penalties.
The fine, a small fraction of Musk's net worth, highlights strained EU-Silicon Valley relations, with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defending X and criticizing Europe's action.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources cover the EU's fine against X neutrally, presenting a balanced view of the dispute. They detail the EU's rationale, X's opposition, and the broader geopolitical context without adopting a biased stance. The reporting attributes strong opinions to specific actors, maintaining an objective tone.
Sources (22)
Center (12)
FAQ
X violated multiple provisions of the EU Digital Services Act including misleading design of the blue checkmark verification badge, lack of transparency in its advertisement repository, and failure to provide researchers access to public data.
The European Commission fined X €120 million (about $140 million), which is a relatively small fraction of Elon Musk's net worth, yet significant as a penalty under the Digital Services Act.
X has 60 days to share information on how it will address the compliance issues related to the blue checkmark problem, and 90 days to address other concerns to avoid further penalties.
This fine is the first non-compliance decision under the EU's new Digital Services Act, demonstrating the EU's commitment to enforcing digital standards and addressing transparency and moderation failures in major platforms.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has defended X and criticized the EU's action, reflecting strained relations between the EU and Silicon Valley tech companies amid increasing US pressure on Brussels regarding the Digital Services Act.
History
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