EU Targets Elon Musk's X for Deceptive Blue Checkmarks

The European Union has accused Elon Musk's platform, X (formerly Twitter), of being deceptive with its blue checkmarks, finding the platform lacking in transparency and accountability. The EU's new social media regulations, the Digital Services Act, were invoked for the first time to charge a tech company, aiming to protect users and ensure ethical practices.

The European Union has leveled charges at Elon Musk's social media platform, X, for deceptive practices involving its blue checkmarks. According to the European Commission, X has failed to meet transparency and accountability standards mandated by the bloc's Digital Services Act (DSA).

In its preliminary findings released on Friday, the European Commission critiqued X's verification system, labeling it as 'dark patterns'—tactics that can be manipulated by malicious actors to deceive users. The investigation marks the first enforcement action under the DSA.

Before Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform in 2022, blue checkmarks were seen as a mark of authenticity for celebrities, politicians, and other influencers. However, the system shifted to a paid model post-acquisition, allowing any user to obtain the badge for a USD 8 monthly fee.

(With inputs from agencies.)