The European Commission has concluded a preliminary investigation into the social network X, owned by Elon Musk, and may soon decide to impose a multi-million euro fine. This was reported by the German newspaper Handelsblatt, citing three anonymous sources within EU authorities.
Since December 2023, X has been under several investigations under the Digital Services Act (DSA), which establishes strict regulatory rules for internet companies. The European Commission’s allegations include:
Violations of advertising transparency rules,
Refusal to provide sufficient access to data for auditing,
Misleading users through the account verification system known as the “blue checkmark.”
If the accusations are confirmed, X could be fined up to 6% of its annual global turnover, which could amount to hundreds of millions of euros for the company.
As a “very large platform” under DSA rules, X is required to combat the spread of hate speech, misinformation, and minimize addiction risks among young people. However, the company’s owner, Elon Musk, has repeatedly criticized EU regulations, calling them a threat to free speech and likening the European Commission to a “censorship body.” Musk has also received public support from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who urged U.S. authorities to push back against EU sanctions.
U.S. President Donald Trump, known for his criticism of European measures against tech giants, also expressed dissatisfaction with the potential sanctions. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he described EU fines as a “hidden tax” and warned of possible retaliatory measures.
