EU Slaps X (Formerly Twitter) with €120 Million Fine for Breaching Online Transparency Rules in 2025

• Why Did the EU Fine X €120 Million?
• Elon Musk vs. the EU: Is This About Censorship?
• How Does the DSA Actually Work?
• What’s Next for X and Other Tech Giants?
• FAQs: EU’s €120 Million Fine on X

The European Union has fined Elon Musk’s social media platform, X (formerly Twitter), a staggering €120 million ($140 million) for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA). The penalty stems from misleading verification practices and insufficient data access for researchers. This marks another aggressive move by the EU to regulate Big Tech, following similar actions against Meta and Apple. Meanwhile, X’s owner, Elon Musk, claims the DSA is a FORM of censorship, while the EU insists it’s about safeguarding user rights. Here’s the full breakdown.

Why Did the EU Fine X €120 Million?

The European Union’s regulatory crackdown on X centers on two major violations under the Digital Services Act (DSA): deceptive verification practices and restricted data access for researchers. According to the EU, X’s blue checkmark system misled users by allowing anyone to purchase verification, creating confusion about account authenticity. Additionally, the platform failed to provide adequate data access for independent research—a key requirement under the DSA.

Henna Virkkunen, the EU’s tech policy chief, stated that the fine was calculated based on the severity of the violations, their duration, and the number of affected EU users. “We’re not here to impose the highest fines possible,” she said. “We’re here to ensure compliance with our digital laws.”

Elon Musk vs. the EU: Is This About Censorship?

Elon Musk, who acquired Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in 2022, has been vocal about his opposition to the DSA, calling it an attack on free speech. “The DSA is just censorship dressed up as regulation,” Musk tweeted shortly after the fine was announced. However, the EU insists that the law is designed to create a “safe and fair online environment” without suppressing expression.

The debate highlights a growing transatlantic divide in tech regulation. While the U.S. leans toward minimal oversight, the EU has taken a more aggressive stance, imposing hefty fines on companies like Meta (€200 million) and Apple (€500 million) earlier this year for DMA violations.

How Does the DSA Actually Work?

The Digital Services Act, enacted two years ago, empowers the EU to fine platforms up to 6% of their global revenue for failing to combat illegal content, disinformation, or transparency breaches. Key provisions include:

• Transparency in moderation: Platforms must notify users when their content is restricted and provide appeal mechanisms.
• Data access for researchers: Independent researchers should be able to study public data to assess platform risks.
• Ad disclosure: Companies must reveal how ads are targeted and who pays for them.

X’s alleged violations spanned all three areas, with the EU noting a “lack of transparency in advertising” and blocking researchers from scraping public data—a practice explicitly prohibited in X’s terms of service.

What’s Next for X and Other Tech Giants?

This fine is unlikely to be the last. The EU has made it clear that it will continue scrutinizing major platforms, particularly under the DMA (Digital Markets Act), which targets anti-competitive behavior. JD Vance, a U.S. political figure, criticized the EU’s actions, calling them “discriminatory against American companies.”

Meanwhile, X faces mounting pressure to revamp its premium subscription model, which has seen lackluster adoption (only 16 likes on its initial announcement post). Whether Musk will comply or double down on his free-speech rhetoric remains to be seen.

FAQs: EU’s €120 Million Fine on X

What was X fined for?

The EU fined X €120 million for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA), specifically for misleading verification practices and restricting data access for researchers.

How much can the EU fine companies under the DSA?

The EU can impose fines of up to 6% of a company’s global annual revenue for serious violations of the DSA.

Is this fine related to free speech?

Elon Musk claims the DSA is a form of censorship, but the EU argues it’s about ensuring a SAFE and transparent online environment without suppressing expression.

Has the EU fined other tech companies?

Yes. Earlier this year, Meta was fined €200 million and Apple €500 million for breaches of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).