First major DSA penalty against X
The European Commission announced on Friday 5 December 2025 a €120 million (£105 million) fine against Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) for multiple violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA).
Regulators identified three separate breaches of transparency rules, with the most serious concerning X’s paid blue-checkmark system.
Commission investigators ruled that allowing anyone to buy verification for $8 a month created “deceptive design practices” that left users exposed to scams, impersonation and manipulation.
Before Musk’s $44 billion takeover in 2022, the blue tick served as identity verification for notable public figures, journalists and organisations. The paid model removed that safeguard.
The investigation began two years ago and marks the EU’s first formal non-compliance decision against X under the DSA.
Potential transatlantic tension
The fine comes amid ongoing friction between Brussels and the incoming Trump administration, which has repeatedly criticised EU digital regulation as unfairly targeting American tech giants and has threatened retaliation.
Source: SkyNews
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