Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter) has been hit with a €120 million fine by the European Commission for what it calls “deceptive practices” related to the platform’s controversial blue tick verification scheme.
The fine, announced on December 5, 2025, marks the first official enforcement action under the EU’s new Digital Services Act (DSA), which holds digital platforms accountable for transparency, content moderation, and user safety.
Why the Blue Tick System Was Fined
According to the European Commission, X’s pay-to-verify model misleads users by failing to provide meaningful identity verification, despite the appearance of trustworthiness conveyed by the blue check mark.
“This deception exposes users to scams, including impersonation fraud and manipulation by malicious actors,” the Commission stated.
Since Musk acquired the platform in 2022, X replaced the previous identity-based verification system with a subscription-based model under its Premium tier. Any user can now receive a blue check mark by paying a monthly fee—provided their account is active, has a profile picture, and a verified phone number. Critics say this approach prioritises monetisation over safety.
Broader Allegations: Lack of Transparency and Research Access
In addition to the blue tick issue, EU regulators cited X’s failure to provide transparency into advertising content and its refusal to grant researchers access to public data, both of which violate the DSA’s core principles of accountability and open access.
The EU has ordered X to outline steps to bring the platform into compliance, warning that further violations could result in recurring fines.
Henna Virkkunen, the Commission’s Executive VP for Tech Sovereignty, added:
“Deceiving users with blue checkmarks, obscuring information on ads, and shutting out researchers have no place in the EU digital space.”
US Politicians React
The ruling sparked backlash from some US leaders. US Vice President JD Vance criticised the EU, claiming X is being punished “for not engaging in censorship” and defending the fine as an attack on free speech.
“The EU should support free expression, not target American companies over nonsense,” Vance said.
A First for the Digital Services Act
The fine is a landmark moment in the enforcement of the Digital Services Act, the EU’s regulatory framework designed to ensure digital platforms protect users from harm, disinformation, and abuse. It also comes amid broader global scrutiny of how tech giants handle content moderation, data access, and political influence.
For Africa-based platforms and policymakers, the decision underscores the importance of responsible platform governance, particularly as social media continues to shape public discourse across the continent.
