The European Union has fined Elon Musk’s social media platform X €120 million ($140 million) for breaches of the Digital Services Act (DSA). This landmark ruling, following a two-year investigation, marks the first such penalty under the EU’s online content law. Regulators cited violations including a deceptively designed blue checkmark system, non-transparent advertising data, and blocked access for researchers.
The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Trump administration officials and U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who accuse the EU of targeting American companies and censorship. The European Commission denies this, stating the rules defend digital and democratic standards without regard to nationality.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stated the fine is about enforcement, not censorship, and is proportional to X’s infringements. Meanwhile, rival TikTok avoided a fine by making concessions. The Commission notes ongoing investigations into X and TikTok, emphasizing that future DSA enforcement decisions will be faster.
