The European Commission has charged social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, with violating the European Digital Services Act (DSA). This law obliges platforms to remove illegal content and limit disinformation.
The Commission says the blue tick payment system, which suggests to users that profiles have been verified, is misleading and contributes to the spread of fake news. As a result, X could face fines of up to 6% of their worldwide turnover.
The investigation into X began in December 2023, focusing on how the platform handles disinformation and fake accounts. Users can get a blue check mark for a fee, which previously guaranteed verified accounts. This causes confusion because people still think these profiles are trustworthy.
X risks heavy fines, but will first be given the opportunity to address the EU's concerns with appropriate measures. However, Elon Musk, the owner of According to Musk, other platforms have accepted this deal, but not X.
Musk threatens to withdraw X from the European market entirely. He claims the Commission proposed quietly censoring opinions in exchange for avoiding fines. However, these statements have not been officially confirmed by the EU. He is probably referring to attempts by the EU to combat (Russian) troll armies, fake accounts and the spread of fake news.
The European Commission is closely monitoring developments and emphasizes that X must act quickly to prevent the spread of illegal and misleading content. As Musk continues his battle against European regulations, it remains unclear how X will respond to the EU's demands.