XThe European Commission has issued a $140M fine to X after finding the platform violated multiple transparency rules under the Digital Services Act. Regulators say the breaches involve the platform’s blue checkmark system, its ad repository, and its handling of researcher data access.
According to the Commission, the company’s paid blue checkmark misleads users by signaling verification without confirming who is behind an account. The DSA prohibits platforms from presenting users as verified if no verification was conducted.
The ruling also states that X’s ad repository does not meet transparency requirements. Officials say it lacks searchable information, includes delays that block access, and omits key details such as ad content, topics, and paying entities. The Commission argues that this prevents researchers and civil groups from tracking scams or organized influence campaigns.
UnsplashThe decision additionally found that X failed to provide researchers with access to public platform data. Regulators say the company’s terms restrict eligible researchers from scraping data and that its access processes add unnecessary barriers.
This marks the first non-compliance decision issued under the Digital Services Act. The fine was calculated based on the nature of the violations, the scale of affected EU users, and the length of the breaches.
What happens next
X has 60 working days to outline how it will fix the deceptive use of blue checkmarks. The company then has 90 working days to submit an action plan addressing issues with its ad repository and researcher data access.
Once submitted, the Board of Digital Services will have one month to provide an opinion before the Commission delivers a final decision and assigns an implementation period. Regulators say X could face additional penalties if it fails to comply.
Related
Back in May, TikTok was fined $600M by the EU for allegedly sending data to China, prompting the company to file a court appeal.