The European Union (EU) has issued a warning to Elon Musk’s social media company, X, formerly known as Twitter, accusing it of misleading users with potentially harmful content, demonstrating Brussels’ ongoing vigilance against major tech corporations’ conduct.
EU officials have expressed concern over X’s provision of blue check marks to validate profiles, claiming that it gives users a false sense of security, as these marks are being misused by those with malicious motives.
These blue checks were introduced after Musk purchased the platform in 2022 and made them available to anyone who paid a monthly fee of £6.20. Prior to this, only celebrities, politicians, and other influential figures generally had access to these verification badges on social media platforms.
Thierry Breton, the European Commissioner for Internal Markets, reminisced that the BlueChecks once symbolised a trustworthy source.
Under the Digital Services Act (DSA), the EU could potentially fine X up to 6 per cent of its income if the company fails to address the concerns raised by the EU. Although no specific timeline has been stated for the following stages of this investigation, the EU could impose fines and demand substantial changes if it confirms its views.
Commissioner Breton also noted a lack of transparency in X’s advertising and called out its refusal to provide data to researchers, actions which potentially violate the DSA guidelines. However, before any financial penalties can be applied, a final resolution will be required from the EU’s regulatory body.
In addition to its scrutiny of X, EU regulators launched an investigation into the platform’s content management following Hamas’s attacks on Israel last year. Other firms such as Meta, AliExpress, and ByteDance’s TikTok, are also under investigation.
These actions all stem from the enforcement of the DSA in August last year, which established regulations for content on social media platforms, online marketplaces, and app stores, mandating the owners to tackle misinformation and offensive content like hate speech and propaganda linked to terrorism.