EU Slams Musk's X with $140m Fine Over 'Deceptive' Blue Tick and Ad

EU Slams Musk's X with $140m Fine Over 'Deceptive' Blue Tick and Ad Transparency The European Union has imposed a hefty fine of 120 million euros ($140 million) on Elon Musk's social media platform, X, for violating digital transparency rules. The European Commission found X guilty of three breaches, including the "deceptive design" of its blue checkmark system, lack of transparency in its advertising repository, and failure to provide researchers access to public data. The Commission's investigation, launched two years ago, revealed that X's paid blue checkmark system misled users about account authenticity, potentially exposing them to scams and impersonation. X has now been given 60 to 90 working days to comply with the Digital Services Act (DSA) and address the violations. The fine marks the first enforcement action under the DSA, signaling the EU's commitment to holding tech giants accountable for their actions. US Vice President JD Vance criticized the fine, claiming it targets American companies, while EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized that the penalty aims to protect users' rights and ensure transparency. The EU's decision has sparked debate, with some arguing it's a necessary step to regulate Big Tech, while others see it as an attack on American companies. As the EU continues to probe X's handling of illegal content and information manipulation, the platform faces potential further penalties.