During the European Union midday briefing on Friday, the commission issued a fine of €120 Million on X for breaching the Digital Service Act (DSA)
X is owned by former Senior Advisor to the President of the United State, tech billionaire, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk
The fine addresses three issues—paid verification lacking real checks, an incomplete ad repository missing details on content and sponsors, and restrictions blocking researchers from public data.
The EU in a broadcast stated: “X has indeed breached its transparency obligation under the DSA, this includes X’s” blue check mark”, it deceives users, anyone can pay to obtain the ‘verified status’ and X does not meanifully verify who is behind it.
“It also includes X’s advertising repository which does not work properly and X does not provide effective data access for researchers.
“Today’s decision has nothing to do with content moderation, it’s about transparency provisions for citizens here in the European Union “the commission clarified.
The tech billionaire in tersely reacted to the broadcast, calling it “bullshit”, described the fine as “crazy and insane”, while disclosing that the fine wasn’t limited to the social media app alone” but also on me personally”
“Therefore, it would seem appropriate to apply our response not just to the EU, but also to the individuals who took this action against me.” Musk declared
X must address the checkmarks within 60 working days and submit plans for the others within 90.
In another post Musk threatened: “The EU woke Stasi commissars are about to understand the full meaning of the “Streisand Effect”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared it as an attack on free speech, highlighting ongoing EU-U.S. tensions over online rules.
According to Rubio: “The European Commission’s $140 million fine on X is an abomination. It’s an attack on a great American job creator & it’s an attack on the free speech of every American. Trump should impose SANCTIONS until this travesty is reversed.”
While Rep. Anna Paulina Luna condemned the action: “Explain to me why we should continue to do business with EU and NATO countries when they’re pulling this type of crap on the back end.
“Now they’re going to fine @Xbecause they won’t censor speech? This is beyond bizarre.”
Senator Eric Schmitt: “Foreign bureaucrats have zero right to tell Americans what they can and can’t say.The European Commission’s attempt to censor American speech is a fundamental attack on our sovereignty.
“I’m working on legislation to protect American speech from foreign subversion. Stay tuned.”
Musk July 2024 disclosure that “The European Commission offered 𝕏 an illegal secret deal: if we quietly censored speech without telling anyone, they would not fine us” currently circulates on the internet
“The other platforms accepted that deal. 𝕏 did not.” Musk had stated
By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth