The European Commission has intensified its accusations against X (formerly Twitter) for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), focusing on three key areas: misleading blue checkmarks, lack of advertising transparency, and insufficient data access for researchers. The Commission claims that X’s blue checkmark system, which allows anyone to obtain a ‘verified’ status through subscription, is deceptive and can be exploited by malicious actors to mislead users.In response to these accusations, Elon Musk, X’s owner, has made a startling claim. He accused the European Commission of offering a ‘secret censorship agreement’ to X, asserting that the Commission would not punish them for silently censoring content without public disclosure. Musk stated, ‘We’re looking forward to a very public fight in court, so that the people of Europe can know the truth’.The EU has vehemently denied these allegations. Thierry Breton, the EU’s Internal Market Commissioner, responded by saying, ‘There was no secret agreement and never will be’. He emphasized that the Commission’s Digital Services Act provides a transparent framework for resolving disputes with X and other large platforms.If the preliminary findings are confirmed, X could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue and be required to implement significant changes to its operations. The EU has also opened similar investigations into other major platforms, including TikTok, AliExpress, and Meta.This escalating dispute highlights the growing tensions between tech giants and regulatory bodies as governments worldwide seek to enforce stricter rules on digital content and user protection. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for how social media platforms operate within the European Union and potentially influence similar regulations globally.
Key points
- The EU has accused X of violating the Digital Services Act, particularly regarding its blue checkmark system and lack of transparency.
- Elon Musk has accused the EU of offering a ‘secret censorship agreement’, which the EU strongly denies.
- If found in violation, X could face fines of up to 6% of its global annual revenue.
- The dispute highlights growing tensions between tech giants and regulatory bodies over digital content rules.
Contradictions👾Elon Musk claims the EU offered a ‘secret censorship agreement’, while the EU’s Thierry Breton strongly denies this, stating ‘There was no secret agreement and never will be’.
