EU Fines X (Twitter) €120 Million for Violating Digital Services Act

Digital Services Act and X's Fine

• 🇪🇺 The European Union has fined X (formerly Twitter) €120 million for violating the Digital Services Act, a law regulating the technology sector.
• 🔍 The probe, launched two years ago, initially focused on the spread of disinformation ahead of European parliamentary elections.
• ⚠️ However, the fine itself was not for disinformation, as that part of the probe is still pending.

Reasons for the Penalty

• 💡 The penalty stems from three specific findings by regulators.
• 💰 One finding relates to X's policy allowing any user to pay for a blue checkmark, which regulators deemed deceptive as it's not true verification.
• 📊 Another finding was the absence of an ads repository on X, which is mandatory for researchers to analyze ads on the platform.
• 🧑‍💻 The third finding concerned X not providing adequate access to third-party researchers.

Regulatory Context and Future Implications

• ⚖️ European regulators are perceived as stringent, particularly regarding data protection and tech regulation.
• 📉 Despite the significant fine, there's a noted dampening in rhetoric from the EU concerning technology companies, possibly influenced by political shifts.
• ⚡ The EU aimed to demonstrate its capability to enforce laws and prosecute breaches, even if the core disinformation aspect remains under investigation.