EU Flags Elon Musk’s X for Deceptive Blue Checkmarks and Lack of Transparency

The European Union has accused Elon Musk's social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, of deceptive practices with its blue checkmarks. The charges stem from the bloc's new social media regulations, the Digital Services Act (DSA), which demands greater transparency and accountability. The EU has identified various discrepancies and data access issues, signaling potential fines.

The European Union has leveled significant accusations against Elon Musk's social media platform, X, citing deceptive practices involving its blue checkmarks and a lack of transparency. This marks the first such charges under the EU's new Digital Services Act (DSA).

The European Commission revealed initial findings from its investigation into X, alleging the platform's verification process misleads users and falls short of industry standards. The DSA mandates social media platforms to safeguard users and eliminate harmful or illegal content, with severe penalties for non-compliance.

In a combative response, Musk claimed the EU offered X an illegal deal to censor speech quietly. The platform now faces potential penalties and must respond to the allegations or face up to 6% of its annual global revenue in fines. Other platforms like TikTok, AliExpress, and Meta are also under investigation.

(With inputs from agencies.)