US Officials Slam EU After X Is Fined Over Verification Practices
A major transatlantic row erupted on Friday after the European Union imposed a €120m (£105m) penalty on X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, for what regulators described as misleading verification practices and a lack of transparency.
The European Commission concluded that X’s paid-for blue checkmarks mislead users because the platform does not sufficiently confirm the identity of those purchasing the badge. Officials said the system creates opportunities for impersonation, scams and other online manipulation.
Beyond concerns around verification, the Commission also found that X was failing to clearly identify advertising content and was limiting access to public data for researchers—both considered violations under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA).
“This decision reflects the seriousness of the infringements and their impact on EU users,” the Commission said, adding that the platform must now present a roadmap for compliance or face further fines.
Strong Reaction From Washington
The ruling drew immediate criticism from senior US officials, who accused the EU of unfairly targeting an American tech company.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the fine as “an attack on all American tech platforms,” claiming that foreign regulators were attempting to influence how US citizens communicate online. His comments, posted on X, were endorsed by Musk.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr echoed the sentiment, arguing that Brussels was punishing the platform “simply for being a successful US tech company.” He accused the EU of using regulation to “tax Americans” while holding back its own digital sector.
Their remarks followed earlier criticism from US Vice-President JD Vance, who claimed the EU was singling out X “for refusing to carry out censorship.”
First Major DSA Enforcement Action
Friday’s decision marks the EU’s first formal ruling on a platform’s non-compliance since the Digital Services Act came into force. The DSA outlines strict responsibilities for large online platforms around data use, advertising transparency and user protection.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, said the ruling demonstrates the EU’s determination to enforce these standards. “Misleading verification features, opaque advertising and blocking access for researchers have no place in the European online space,” she said.
Background to X’s Verification Overhaul
Musk introduced sweeping changes to Twitter – renamed X – after acquiring the company in 2022. The long-standing identity-based verification system was replaced with a subscription model tied to the platform’s Premium service.
While the new method gives subscribers greater visibility across the platform, critics have warned that it weakens trust signals and could amplify misinformation. Social media analysts say the absence of rigorous ID checks has increased the risk of impersonation – one of the core issues highlighted in the EU’s investigation.
X has not yet publicly commented on the Commission’s decision.
